Channel 4 has postponed 'Adult Material' because it's too dirty to air until 10pm.
Rupert Everett
The broadcaster has decided to delay the release of the new drama series from spring to the autumn because the X-rated show can only air at a 10pm time slot.
At present, that would see the drama compete against the main BBC and ITV news programmes, which are attracting huge audiences amid the coronavirus pandemic.
An insider told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: "Channel 4 are incredibly proud of this brave drama and see it as one of the jewels in the crown of its TV shows in 2020. So they want to give it the best chance possible of developing an audience.
"That's very difficult at 10pm, when people are preoccupied with getting the latest on that day's events.
"It's hoped that by waiting until the autumn, there's a chance that the crisis will have calmed down and people's viewing habits will return to normal."
The upcoming show stars Hayley Squires as Jolene Dollar, a mother-of-three who works in the sex movie industry.
Elsewhere, Rupert Everett plays a porn film mogul and Phil Daniels stars as the director of many of Jolene's movies.
Channel 4 says it's committed to screening the drama and is reluctant to move it to an 11pm slot, as it would limit the programme's potential audience.
Caroline Hollick, the head of Channel 4 drama, said: "We're hugely proud of this bold, funny, ground-breaking drama and will be launching the series later in the year."
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