Politicians and devotees of the programme criticised the corporation after The Times revealed a BBC edict stating that the new series was too scary for youngsters.

More than one hundred parents have complained that their youngest children suffered nightmares after last Saturday’s episode, which featured killer zombies in Victorian Cardiff.

But Tim Collins, the Shadow Education Secretary, who is a Doctor Who fan, argued that a little fright is a good thing. “It’s about the battle between good and evil,” he said. “There are monsters in it but they are always vanquished. I think the programme has always been intended to provide a legitimate scare to children, an enjoyable scare.” It was perfectly appropriate for six-year-olds, he said. However, Mr Collins backed a compromise Shadow Cabinet position that Doctor Who should not be viewed by children aged 3 and younger — a policy used in his own home.

On websites devoted to the programme, the warning became the main topic of debate, supplanting discussions about which actor should become the next Doctor. Most agreed with Anthony Dry, from Liverpool, who wrote on the BBC message board: “I’d say it’s more terrifying watching Strictly Dance Fever or Ant and Dec — pure horror.”

Fearing a revolt by licence-fee payers, the BBC issued a statement withdrawing advice that under-8s should not be allowed to watch the show. A spokesman said: “We leave it to the discretion of parents to ultimately decide what is suitable for their children.”

The Unquiet Dead instalment, written by Mark Gatiss, featured corpses possessed by aliens and a grandson strangled by his zombie grandmother.

BBC executives are checking whether future episodes, including the return of the Daleks, contain scenes likely to provoke a similar outcry.

Warnings will be given before the programmes if they contain scenes that might disturb younger viewers. The BBC’s Programme Complaints Unit will investigate whether there were sufficient warnings before the 7pm broadcast.

The BBC’s producer guidelines state: “It is vital to consider the expectations that audiences have of particular programmes and timeslots.”

But scary scenes and storylines are integral to the series and vital to Doctor Who’s international sales potential.

Ofcom, the communications regulator, has received complaints about The Unquiet Dead and will investigate whether the episode breached pre-watershed guidelines.

Is Doctor Who too scary?

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