Health and safety officers have banned red noses from being worn by the audience of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy.

Producers of the charity show had reportedly planned to equip the entire audience with the novelty items, but have been refused permission because they are a fire hazard.

An insider at the show told the Mirror, "It's a bit ridiculous to stop adults in the audience from wearing red noses. Surely they can be trusted to keep them safe?

"They are...checked thoroughly to make sure they adhere to European safety standards. Put it this way, they're hardly going to cause much damage.

"It's a shame because the show is to raise money and it might have encouraged more people to go out and buy the noses if they saw them on telly."

A spokeswoman for Endemol explained that the venue had a lot to do with the decision: "We are filming in a Grade II listed building and anything that is a potential fire risk or can cause damage when dropped is not allowed."