V***** Media says sorry for TV menu cock-up

It came as no surprise to Spurs supporters that A***nal is a swear word. But Virgin Media has apologised after an overly-efficient obscenity checker protected viewers from the most harmless programmes.

Customers searching their on-screen menus were given heavily asterisked warnings of the filth apparently on offer. Sunday's Match of the Day 2 would prominently feature highlights of A***nal.

The BBC's The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff was blacklisted for being an adventure in the style of Charles D***ens and narrow- boat enthusiasts were advised of the depravity lurking in the gentle BBC 4 documentary, The Golden Age of C**als.

Virgin Media said: "Over the weekend a temporarily over-zealous profanity checker took offence at certain programme titles. The altered titles have been swiftly an*lysed and we're fixing any remaining glitches."