Teacher union chief blames Life On Mars for bullying

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Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT union, said TV bosses have a responsibility to make sure shows do not encourage racist, sexist and homophobic insults.

DCI Gene Hunt, the 1970s cop from the BAFTA-nominated Life On Mars played by Philip Glenister, has become a cult figure for his insults - "nancy" and "fairy boy" being two of his favourites.

Anti-gay insults drive young people to consider suicide, Ms Keates warned. "Clearly schools do have an important role to play but also so do parents. Also there is a responsibility in the media to make sure these kind of programmes aren't in the majority," she added.

The union is expected to pass a motion at its annual conference in Belfast today demanding "zero tolerance" of bad behaviour by pupils, amid warnings that indiscipline in schools is getting worse.

A NASUWT survey shows 81 per cent - "an overwhelming majority" - of teachers had experienced bullying by pupils and colleagues.