CHANNEL'S 4 broadcasting of the Muslim call to prayer during the holy month of Ramadan was the broadcaster's most-complained about programme last year.

It received 2011 complaints about its 4Ramadan season with 1658 specifically about the call to prayer broadcast.

Writing in the broadcaster's annual report, Channel 4's head of factual Ralph Lee said: "The level of Islamophobia we encountered with the 4Ramadan season was unexpected, though much of it came from communities that were either very polarised or very un-diverse."

Mr Lee later defended the broadcast in a column for the Radio Times.

He said Channel 4 would "act as a nationwide Tannoy system" and a provocation to viewers "in the very real sense of the word".