Child performance regulations to be brought up to date

The review, which was announced at the launch of The Children’s Plan Two Years On, will consider issues including how children should be treated on reality TV, a genre that had not yet been invented when the existing rules were written.

Balls said it was right to consider whether such dated legislation is fit for purpose. The rules currently focus on children’s medical fitness but do not consider safeguarding from abuse or how performance affects children’s emotional wellbeing.

Balls claimed he was concerned by programmes such as Channel 4’s Boys and Girls Alone, a reality TV show which featured a group of primary school children living without adult supervision for two weeks.

He described this sort of programme as "factional" – a mix between performance and documentary – and warned that such shows are not properly covered by regulations.

"We want to continue celebrating the brilliant performances of children in stage shows like Billy Elliot or programmes like Britain’s Got Talent, and it is right that our talented children should continue to appear on those stages," he explained.

"But where many parents, educators and ministers become concerned is when programme makers seem to be determined to keep pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable, to provide shock value for viewers and push up ratings."

Meanwhile, the government has published an independent report into the impact of the commercialisation on children by David Buckingham, professor at the Institute for Education. 

It found that, while children need to be protected from risks, the commercial world and the media offers children vast opportunities for learning, social development and fun.

In response to Buckingham’s report the government is to set up a panel to consider how further media literacy skills could be incorporated into the curriculum. A set of voluntary principles, to govern marketing and promotion of food and drink to children, may also be set up.