More sex on TV

LONDON (Reuters) - Sex scenes and nudity on television increased last year, reflecting more relaxed public attitudes, researchers say.

Programmes such as "G-String Divas" and "Real Sex" on the Five channel helped double the number of scenes depicting sexual intercourse in 2002.

"Attitudes towards sex and sexual activity have changed over the years," said Paul Bolt, director of the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC), a government-funded watchdog, on Tuesday.

"People are now more comfortable with programming that contains sexual material as long as they are made aware of the material to be broadcast."

The research was carried out by the BSC, the BBC and the Independent Television Commission, which regulates commercial TV.

Researchers monitored more than 800 programmes on the five terrestrial channels from 5.30 p.m. to midnight over two weeks.

They found one in five programmes included some form of sexual activity, mostly mild.

Scenes depicting sexual intercourse more than doubled to 14 percent from six percent in 1997, the last time the survey was carried out.

The number of nude scenes trebled between 1997 and 2002, with Channel 4 and Five showing the most.

The watchdogs said broadcasters respected the so-called watershed, the 9 p.m. barrier before which adult scenes are discouraged.

A recent survey for the BSC and ITC showed 48 percent of viewers thought the amount of sex on television was about right, 44 percent said there was too much and five percent too little.

Hugh Grant to return as PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Hugh Grant will play a charismatic, bachelor prime minister who falls in love with a tea-lady in a romantic comedy due for Christmas release, its makers say.

"Love Actually" reunites the team behind box office hits "Notting Hill" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and is the biggest Brit-flick hope in years.

Grant stars with Martine McCutcheon, little known outside Britain where she is famous for appearing in the top-rated soap EastEnders.

She is joined by Hollywood names such as Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson. Comic actor Rowan Atkinson, who plays the bungling Mr Bean, makes a cameo appearance.

Set in wintry London around Christmas, the film intertwines the premier's unlikely love for the woman who makes the tea with nine other love stories.

Grant's character has been compared to Tony Blair, the youngest premier since 1812, although its makers deny any deliberate comparison.

It was made by Working Title films and United International Pictures and is due for release on both sides of the Atlantic on November 21.

Newspapers are predicting it will be one of the biggest British hits in years, but it faces tough opposition at the box office from the latest Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings instalments.