Nicholas Soames' outburst may be a first for Parliament but swearing in public and the media has become more common over the years.

The first recorded royal use of profanity in Sussex is attributed to King George V. On his death bed in 1936 he was asked if he wanted to convalesce in his favourite resort. He replied: "Bugger Bognor."

In 1936, music hall comedian Hector Thaxter caused uproar by becoming the first person to say "arse" on radio.

In 1960, the DH Lawrence novel Lady Chatterley's Lover, which included the F word, was only allowed to go on sale after a court battle.

In 1965, critic and writer Kenneth Tynan became the first man to use the F word on TV. He caused such a furore that one Tory MP said he should hang.

In 1967, after watching an episode of Till Death Us Do Part in which the word 'bloody' was used 44 times, moral guardian Mary Whitehouse fumed: "This is the end of civilisation as we know it."

The Oxford dictionary included the F word in 1972.

In 1976 punk rock group the Sex Pistols caused outrage when guitarist Steve Jones used the F word to describe veteran presenter Bill Grundy.

The band's album Never Mind The B******s was also at the centre of a legal battle.

TV presenter Jools Holland was suspended from presenting the programme The Tube for six weeks when he let slip an exclamation including the F word.

In 1996, embattled prime minister John Major referred to those plotting against him as "bastards."