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A Channel 4 programme which showed live nude models at lunchtime did not breach broadcasting rules, Ofcom ruled today.

The watchdog received 37 complaints about Life Class: Today's Nude, a drawing class which featured nudity in five half-hour programmes broadcast in the 12.30pm slot in early July.

Each episode was led by a well-known artist, who talked viewers through the process of rendering a naked human form on paper, and a different model was used each day.

Shows on the other terrestrial channels at the same time included Bargain Hunt on BBC1, Working Lunch on BBC2, House Doctor on Five and Loose Women on ITV1.

Clips from the show are still available on the Channel 4 website, but viewers must click a box to confirm they are over 16 before they can watch the footage.

The project was conceived by artist Alan Kane and supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council for England.

Ofcom's broadcasting code states that nudity shown before the 9pm watershed "must be justified by the context".

The regulator has written to everyone who complained about the show to explain why it decided the code had not been breached.

"Life drawing is a well-known and respected form of art," the letter read.

"In Ofcom's view, although the images of nudity were broadcast for long periods of time, they were not presented in a sexualised manner and were clearly justified by the context, given the editorial purpose of the series.

"Ofcom considered that Channel 4 provided sufficient information to the audience as to what might be expected if they watched the programme, and it was broadcast during school term time, so was not aimed at children."

Each episode was prefaced by a warning about the content and began with the artist discussing his or her view of the nude as an art form.


Metro