Fame Academy judge sparks protest

Park has been a Fame Academy judge since its 2002 launch

A judge on BBC talent show Comic Relief Does Fame Academy sparked 450 viewer complaints after making an offensive hand gesture on live television.

Richard Park made the gesture to host Patrick Kielty during the Saturday evening charity programme.

The BBC received 138 complaints on Saturday and 312 subsequent complaints.

"It is a live show and tensions were running high but we are really sorry if any offence was caused," a Fame Academy spokeswoman said.

'Did not realise'

"Richard Park did not realise he was on camera at the time," she added.

"All Fame Academy participants have been made aware of the incident and are now much more conscious of the fact that they may be filmed at any time."

The spokeswoman added that all complaints were taken seriously and would be dealt with via the BBC's complaints procedure.

Park has been with Fame Academy since it began in 2002. A former executive at the Capital Radio group, he now works as a consultant for media conglomerate Emap, advising on the development of London radio station Magic.

Comic Relief Does Fame Academy is a charity version of the talent show which will donate money raised through public votes to the Comic Relief charity.

Celebrities including actors Kim Medcalf, Adrian Edmondson and Dawn Steele, as well as Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman and DIY SOS host Nick Knowles, are competing ahead of Friday's final.