TV satire sparks watchdog review

Channel 4 has been inundated with complaints

The government has suggested that broadcasting regulations may need to be changed following the controversy about the Channel 4 spoof documentary on paedophilia.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has contacted the ITV industry watchdog and Channel 4 following the uproar over its controversial Brass Eye programme.

The programme, fronted by Chris Morris, spoofed the media reaction to paedophilia and generated more than 2,500 viewers' complaints.

The key issue for us now is to examine whether any more needs to be done

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell

Several ministers have also voiced their distaste at its content.

Ms Jowell, who was concerned that the programme was repeated a day after its original broadcast despite negative reaction from viewers, spoke to the Independent Television Commission's Sir Robin Biggam and C4 chief Michael Jackson on Monday.

"I've made it clear that programme content and regulatory issues which have arisen through this are a matter for them (ITC and Ch4) and not government," Ms Jowell said.

She added: "A heavy responsibility sits on them to safeguard public trust and confidence."

Tessa Jowell: Raised concerns with Channel 4

Ms Jowell said she would be taking a closer look at whether changes were needed to the ITC's complaints procedure.

"The key issue for us now is to examine whether any more needs to be done, so I'll move on to talk in more detail with the ITC about the adequacy and speed of the system of complaint."

The ITC said it had assured the culture secretary that it would be fulfilling all of its statutory obligations in relation to Brass Eye.

"We will assess the complaints in the light of the programme code as quickly as possible, bearing in mind due process and the need to allow Channel 4 to put its case," said a spokesman.

No censorship

Earlier a Downing Street spokesman said it was "a government view" that the programme had gone beyond the boundaries of taste and decency.

This opinion was shared by Ms Jowell, Home Secretary David Blunkett and child protection minister Beverley Hughes.

I saw the programme and it made me laugh

Austin Mitchell MP

However the spokesman stressed that satire had an important role to play, and that "ministers were not talking about censorship".

The NSPCC described the show as "crude and crass" and "offensive", and along with NCH, the NSPCC's National Child Protection Helpline, unsuccessfully called on the station not to air the repeat.

The show generated more than 2,500 complaints

The show's contentious scenes include a young boy paraded in front of a man in stocks; one "paedophile" being burned to death inside a phallic symbol on release from jail and another portrayed preying on young children.

Ms Jowell said: "The Brass Eye programme and the fact that it was repeated after only 24 hours suggests that there is a need for a rethink about the ITC's powers."

She also showed her distaste for the programme, saying: "If this is considered acceptable material then we are tearing down all the boundaries of decency on television."

The ITC is to launch an investigation into whether the programme broke its requirements on taste, decency and the use of child actors.

If it finds that its code was breached, the commercial television regulator could hit Channel 4 with an unlimited fine or even, theoretically, revoke its licence - although that ultimate sanction appears unlikely in this case.

But Labour MP Austin Mitchell disagreed with his fellow politicians, telling BBC Radio 5Live: "I think it's a lot of fuss and nonsense over nothing.

Writer David Quantick has defended the show

"I saw the programme and it made me laugh."

The Metropolitan Police received a number of complaints and Scotland Yard said although it has a copy of the show for reviewing purposes it was not investigating it "at this stage".

One of the show's writers, David Quantick, stood by his work, insisting on BBC One's Breakfast that it was "a show about media attitudes to paedophilia and the way the media apparently exploits it".

He said Brass Eye made a valid point about the "willingness of celebrities to endorse things just because they want a bit of publicity".

Channel 4 has voiced regret that some viewers had found the "savage" satire offensive, but has stood by its decision to broadcast the show.

"It is part of the channel's remit to ask hard questions about the way society and the media deal with its most difficult problems," a spokesman said.