Radio 2 Chris Evans has lambasted what he terms the unbelievable nightmare” of broadcasting regulations in the wake of the Sachsgate scandal involving Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand.

Rules introduced to prevent a recurrence of that episode, which saw both presenters leave lewd messages on Andrew Sach’s voicemail, have become more extensive are enforced with greater assertion.

Speaking at the Telegraph Hay Festival Evans said: “"What has happened since [Sachsgate] is very, very good but also a complete pain in the backside.

“It means comedy has become much more sophisticated but the compliance culture that has come in since, you wouldn't believe it. The compliance department of the BBC is so extensive it's an unbelievable nightmare.”

Evans went on to say that comedy was in a “downward spiral” noting that “When you start low there's nowhere to go. It's like watching pornography — it's got to get more severe to get the same high. The laws of physics say that's a downward spiral.”