The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has issued a formal warning to Channel 4 after it breached the Programme Code during two editions of TFI Friday, the entertainment show headed by Chris Evans. A ‘last one to blink’ contest was said to have caused distress to the child contestants.
The competition, which took place in June this year, had two seven year old boys taking part; the parents of the last one to blink won a car. The boy who lost was seen fighting back tears. When the contest was repeated the following week with two young girls, the losing girl burst into tears at the end.
After complaints following the initial programme Chris Evans assured viewers that the child involved had been rewarded; during the second programme he announced it would not be repeated with children.
Although Channel 4 had full permission from the children’s parents the ITC said that unnecessary stress was placed on them, and that the prizes were too large for children to compete for. Section 10.5 of the Code states that “prizes in, or associated with, children’s programmes should normally be considerably lower than those on offer to adults.”
Independent Television Commission: 0171 255 3000
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