Channel 4 sex programme under fire for showing 'men's genitals'

London, Sept 11 : A Channel 4 programme on sex education has come under fire for showing men's genitals at prime time.

Claiming itself as a "ground-breaking" series which tackled the "Britain's ignorance" and offered "the biology lesson you never had," the 'Sex Education Show' attracted controversy after its first episode was telecasted at 8pm on Sept 9.

Viewers have complained to the television watchdog, Ofcom, against the broadcast of the show before the 9pm watershed.

Scenes, which were objected, included one that was a discussion about safe sex, where a doctor used vegetables to teach a group of young men how to put on a condom correctly.

Another scene showed a doctor examining a man's genitals and later describing how it functions during a sex education lesson.

"Shouldn't this programme have been shown post-watershed? Does everything have to be done on TV these days?" the Telegraph quoted one viewer, as saying during an online discussion about the show.

Another said: "Channel 4, we're not shocked any more. Do stop these infantile and puerile programmes on sex and start making decent documentaries. Put it away please, nobody's impressed."

In fact, the series also has a website, called Sexperience, which can be easily accessed by young children.

It deals with a number of sexually explicit questions, including "Have you ever had a problem having an orgasm?", "How do you and your partner get in the mood for sex", and "Do you reckon having phone sex and text sex counts as cheating?"

Ofcom has said that it is looking into the programme after it got 25 complaints.

However, Channel 4 shielded the series claiming that it offered viewers important advice that could help in reducing teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

"We did get a small number of complaints. The programme was aimed at families and we hope it will form a starting point for a family discussion about the issues raised," said a spokesman.

ANI