Channel 4 postpones Jonathan King film

Channel 4 has postponed a documentary on the sex offender and former pop mogul Jonathan King because one of those interviewed was found to be involved in a trial unrelated to the King case.

The 80-minute programme, The Double Life of Jonathan King, was written and directed by Jon Ronson. It was originally scheduled for 10pm on Monday. A Channel 4 spokeswoman confirmed that it was being rescheduled, but added that it was unlikely to be delayed for long.

King was jailed in November for seven years for sexual offences against boys. The spokeswoman said Channel 4 rejected accusations that the documentary gave him a platform from which to justify his crimes. "We absolutely stand by the programme, and it is unambiguous in its condemnation of King's guilt," she said.

"He shows his attitude to the charges against him and his victims to be one of arrogance and self-delusion and that is very clear in the film." She added that the programme, which was made before King's two-week trial at the Old Bailey, was shot both in interview and video-diary form because King had refused to continue talking directly to Mr Ronson, so the programme makers decided to switch to the video-diary format.

There are reports that in the programme King questions the prosecution of an adult when the victims are only weeks away from the present age of consent, asks why victims are allowed to stay anonymous in the course of a trial and suggests that there was a conspiracy against him because of his fame.

After King's arrest, Mr Ronson built up a detailed picture of the former Entertainment USA presenter through a series of interviews.

The programme will be replaced by a repeat of Cannibal, a documentary on real-life Hannibal Lecters.