The BBC has admitted "an error of judgment" after viewers complained about a promo showing outre comedian Johnny Vegas squashed into a fridge.
The decision by BBC marketers to broadcast the stunt "caused widespread concern among parents", fearful that it might spark copycat action among children. Nearly 40 viewers rang TV watchdogs to complain.
In the promo for Radio 4's 6.30pm comedy slot, Vegas is seen sitting in a fridge and handing out the ingredients to make a pizza. During the short film the fridge door closes with Vegas still inside.
Ofcom said the BBC admitted that the promo had "caused widespread concern among parents", but claimed the film was so "unrealistic, and the comic purpose so plain, that it was extremely unlikely to prompt copycat actions".
However it accepted that it had made an "error of judgment" in allowing the trailer to appear alongside programmes that were likely to attract large numbers of young viewers.
The BBC said it had deliberately kept the promo away from CBBC and Cbeebies programming and moved it to a post-watershed slot following the complaints.
However TV regulators upheld the complaints, saying it did not "expect" footage that could be simply copied by children to be shown before the 9pm watershed.
"Promotions come upon the audience without warning and, in this case, there was the added possibility that children may not initially understand the comic situation and be able to assess the action's potential for harm," the regulator said in a statement.
However Ofcom said it welcomed the BBC's speedy action in moving the trailer to a post-9pm slot.
The regulator also criticised Telewest's interactive movie service, Front Row, for showing trailers for films, including Donnie Darko and horror movie The Ring, before the watershed.
"We considered that these trailers were unsuitable for showing at a time when young children were likely to be watching," the watchdog said.
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