Ad banned from children's TV

A Lenny Henry advert has been banned from children’s TV – for scaring them too much.

The commercial parodies the classic horror film The Shining, with Henry attacking a door with an axe, putting his head through the hole and announcing: ‘Heeeere's Lenny.’

The commercial, for Premier Inn, then carried the line: ‘A bad night's sleep at some hotels can really make you grumpy.’

Eight viewers, who saw the ad on the children's channel Nick Jr, complained to the Advertising Standards Authority, which ruled that Henry’s aggressive behaviour and the menacing tone and music were likely to distress younger children.

It ruled that the ad must not be shown again during or around programmes made for or specifically targeted at children.

Premier Inn said it had not intended for the ad to be broadcast on children's channels and blamed a technical error.

Published: 24 Mar 2010