Simon Cowell tortoise stunt 'upset children'

A TV trailer for Pop Idol showing Simon Cowell blowing up a tortoise has been criticised by UK watchdogs for upsetting young children.

Dozens of viewers complained about the clip in which Pop Idol's Mr Nasty appeared to punish the animal for singing badly.

Many thought the trailer for the second series of the ITV1 talent show encouraged cruelty to animals, although the tortoise was clearly a puppet.

And on one occasion it was screened on a Sunday morning directly after The Ark, a show for pre-school children featuring singing animal puppets.

Young children who watched the trailer were left "confused and upset" by the images, the British Independent Television Commission said.

The ITC investigated 34 complaints and cleared the ad of encouraging animal cruelty.

But it ruled that showing it as such an inappropriate time was in breach of advertising guidelines.

Channel TV, which compiled the promotional clip, said it was "clearly surreal and comical".