Channel 4 has been forced by the television regulator Ofcom to axe its late night comedy programme Little Friends.  The hidden camera show, which features young child-actors putting unsuspecting adults into awkward situations received scores of complaints from viewers.  Many people watching the show were concerned that the children were being made to use obscene language, or were leading adults to read unsuitable material to them.

Channel 4 defended its position claiming that much of the language used in the show was no worse than the children would hear in the school playground.  It told the watchdog the four actors, three of whom were aged 13 (but looked younger), had been chosen for their "maturity" and that full parental consent had been given for the show.

But Ofcom disagreed, saying that the script seemed to celebrate the use of inappropriate sexual references and said it was "offensive" to encourage the actors to use four-letter and explicit language.