Frankie Boyle’s Tramadol Nights Faces Axe

This is definitely moving in the right direction. I hope the programme does get axed, and that Boyle does get sacked. I have to thank Jay Hunt for showing sensitivity to all minority groups by making this suggestion.

Channel 4 is expected to axe Frankie Boyle’s controversial comedy show after he mocked the disabled and used racist language.

Tramadol Nights was one of the most complained about programmes of last year and new station boss Jay Hunt does not want it back on air.

Boyle, however, could be given a role in another comedy show being launched by the broadcaster.

Boyle is being investigated by media regulator Ofcom after making grotesque sexual jokes about Katie Price’s disabled son Harvey.

He also caused fury by using offensive words to describe black and Asian people.

By the end of his six-show run Boyle’s audience had dwindled to just 400,000 – and big name firms, including Nestle and L’Oreal, had pulled their advertising from around the programme.

Charities and viewers have called for Channel 4 to sack Boyle and sources close to Miss Hunt, who started her new £400,000 role as chief creative officer on Monday, said she did not want Tramadol Nights to return.

In a further blow, Boyle has been told he will not be on stage at the British Comedy Awards – which are being televised by the channel – to present an award.

The issue has prompted him to refuse to attend the ceremony at the O2 arena in London in any form.

A source said: ‘It is a reality check for Frankie and a sign he is no longer a top priority for Channel 4.

‘He threw his toys out of the pram and told bosses he had no intention of going to the awards – which didn’t go down well either.’

Sources say that axing Boyle’s show will help Miss Hunt make her mark in her new role. Her previous post as controller of BBC1 was dogged by controversy with critics accusing the corporation of ageist and sexist policies.

Her reputation suffered a blow after an employment tribunal upheld presenter Miriam O’Reilly’s claim that she was dropped from Countryfile because she was too old.

Boyle has repeatedly come under fire. Last month the Equality and Human Rights Commission accused him of ‘denigrating’ those with disabilities and warned his act could encourage hate crimes.

At the time of the Katie Price row, Channel Four insisted it was standing by Boyle and claimed his series had been assessed by executives and approved for transmission.

A spokesman for Channel 4 said: ‘No decision has been made on the future of Frankie Boyle’s series.’