CONTROVERSIAL comedian Frankie Boyle claims he is "relieved" TV bosses have axed the second series of his infamous show Tramadol Nights.

Channel 4 has said it will not commission a second series of the show, which provoked more than 500 complaints and was criticised by politicians and charity groups.

However, defending the content of Tramadol Nights, Mr Boyle said: "I was really happy with it, but you can see why they didn't want to recommission something that was getting them front-page hatred and I was a bit relieved. A six-week panel show takes six weeks to make. Because I was involved from storyboard to editing, Tramadol took over six months, and loads of that was late nights and six-day weeks."

Tommy Shepherd, of The Stand comedy club, added: "It looks as if, for all their supposedly radical, liberal traditions, Channel 4 has knuckled down to celebrity culture."