ADVERT makers were asked to reshoot the act of North-East comedian Bobby Thompson after his death because he was holding a cigarette.

The request came after a TV commercial featuring Bobby's DVD was banned because it showed him smoking.

The rules that govern television advertising would not allow any part of his act to be broadcast where the comedian is shown smoking.

Bobby's trademark cigarette was as much a part of his act as the raggy jumper and cloth cap - and he would often cadge a cigarette from someone in the audience.

The commercial, which showed a clip from his Little Waster DVD, was rejected by the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC), which has the final say on the content of advertisements.

Ken McKenzie, who produced the commercial on behalf of Windows music store, said: "We knew that full frontal smoking wouldn't be allowed, so we submitted a commercial where the cigarette was blanked out by a mosaic effect, like you sometimes see over car number plates in Crimewatch. But the BACC still weren't happy.

"They suggested that we shoot the material again, which would be a bit difficult as Bobby died in 1988."

The BACC finally accepted an advertisement with the cigarette blacked out, although it remains on view in the show.

The advertisement will be shown on Tyne Tees television next week.