Bremner's McCann sketch draws complaints

Media regulator Ofcom has revealed that it has received a number of complaints from viewers who watched last Sunday's episode of Bremner, Bird and Fortune in which there was a sketch suggesting that Gordon Brown would find Madeleine McCann on the eve of an election.

The sketch, which was performed by impressionist Rory Bremner as part of his hour-long weekly Channel 4 satirical comedy show, suggested that Mr Brown was so desperate for an election win that he would produce the missing child on the eve of a poll in order to secure votes.

David Cairnie, one of the viewers who complained, wrote: "I wish to register my abhorrence at a supposed 'joke' proffered by Bremner, Bird and Fortune; they suggested that Gordon Brown might produce and hold up Madeleine McCann on the eve of an election as a vote winning move. It seems that Channel 4 has reached a new level in despicable taste."

A Channel 4 spokesman, who confirmed the channel has also received a "number" of complaints directly, defended the sketch, telling MediaGuardian: "The sketch satirised the lengths to which politicians would go to win public support, following press criticism of the timing of Gordon Brown's visit to Iraq in the run up to a snap general election. We can assure the sketch was not aimed at the McCann family, but was clearly directed at politicians and their opportunistic publicity stunts. It was certainly never Channel 4's intention to offend or cause distress to the family or to our viewers."

Rory Bremner is not the first comedian to find himself in a spot of bother for making jokes in relation to Madeleine McCann. Last month stand-up comedian Patrick Kielty joked that Gerry and Kate McCann should have checked Madeleine's body in as Ryanair luggage to dispose of her; and Dave Longley was booed off stage at a Comedy Central club night after he made the observation that both Madeleine and murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones were both wearing Everton shirts in their photos.