Endemol "pre-recorded 'live' shark footage"

Endemol has conceded that apparently "live" scenes from the programme Killer Shark Live were actually pre-recorded.

The admission comes after an anonymous crew member claimed to the Media Guardian that some of the footage had been filmed days in advance and that audio drop-outs had been inserted into the soundtrack to create an impression that live streaming was being interrupted.

Killer Shark Live aired on Five over a week in October 2005 and was presented by Nick Baker and Donal MacIntyre.

A joint statement from Endemol and Five read: "Killer Shark Live, which transmitted in October 2005, was broadcast live from San Diego and consisted of live studio links, pre-recorded video packages and sequences from a boat 250 miles off shore.

"Our initial findings are that some some of the sequences from the boat were billed as live when they had been pre-recorded earlier on the vessel.

"We are continuing to look into this and will not be commenting further while this process is ongoing."