Bullying advert too shocking for TV

A GIRL sewing her own mouth shut is one of the scenes in an anti-bullying advert ruled too shocking for television.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jan 2010, 09:11 BST
Updated 14th Jan 2010, 09:11 BST

The film, launched today, will be shown online and in cinemas before films rated 12A and above.

It is part of a 1.2m campaign by children's charity Beatbullying in memory of 15-year-old Megan Gillan, who took a fatal overdose of painkillers after being bullied on social networking site Bebo.

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The advert promotes a website, cybermentors.org.uk, which allows young people who have been bullied to help each other and discuss their problems.

A spokeswoman for Clearcast, which decides which adverts can be shown on British television, said it was felt some scenes would be viewed as offensive.

Beatbullying's chief executive, Emma-Jane Cross, said: "We are proud of this advert and the way it makes you stop and understand the impact bullying can have on its victims.

"But we were disappointed that Clearcast refused to let this advert go on to TV."