Channel 4 Themed Week Postponed
Channel 4’s controversial series of themed programmes, W*nk Week, has been postponed, as the broadcaster seeks to avoid any more bad publicity in the wake of the Celebrity Big Brother furore.
The channel was to show three late night programmes, themed around the subject of masturbation, but the broadcaster has now taken all of the programmes from the schedule.
One of the shows, dubbed a ‘masturbate-athon’, was filmed in central London last August. All three programmes are expected to be broadcast at a later date, although it is thought that they will be broadcast separately and not as part of a themed season.
Reports in the trade press have claimed that senior Channel 4 board members have been severely concerned about the negative publicity which W*nk Week has already gained.
Channel 4 may have felt pressured into the move as it is currently undergoing an Ofcom review of its finances, which could decide whether or not it gets a new form of public subsidy to help fund the switch to digital.
Celebrity Big Brother was one of the most complained about programmes in the history of broadcasting, with the heads of Channel 4, Andy Duncan and Kevin Lygo, having to defend the channel against accusations that it mishandled events in the house (see Duncan And Lygo Defend Celebrity Big Brother).
The BBC reported earlier today that one of the housemates, Danielle Lloyd, has been interviewed by police about the alleged racist comments made by housemates.
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