Leeroy Thornhill left The Prodigy earlier this year

The video and song sparked huge controversy when it was first released in 1997.

A spokesman for the ITC said the incident represented such a serious breach of their programme code that the channel should broadcast an apology to viewers.

The on-air apology is rarely called upon and is only used for the most serious breaches of the ITC code.

The last time a channel was ordered to apologise on air was Channel Four, over Chris Morris' spoof documentary Brass Eye, which parodied the media's coverage of paedophilia.

Despite the video's controversial nature, Smack My Bitch Up won three awards at the MTV video music awards, including the best video honour.

Firestarter

The band have always skirted with controversy ever since they formed in the early 1990s.

Its four members had a series of chart hits at the height of the rave scene in Britain.

Their biggest hit was Firestarter, which hit the number one spot in the UK, also sparked outrage over complaints that it encouraged arson.

The band, now a three-piece after the departure of Leeroy Thornhill, are due to release a new album early next year.

Complaint about Eminem interview on MTV was upheld

The on-air apology will be broadcast on MTV on 12 December.

This the second time that MTV Base has been rapped by TV watchdogs in the last six months.

The channel, dedicated to videos from hip/hop and R & B artists, showed an interview between rapper Eminem and producer Dr Dre.

One viewer complained over the sexually explicit nature of the conversation.

MTV apologised, saying the interview should have gone out at a later time, and the complaint was upheld.