9:11am UK, Monday July 03, 2006

Two contestants on the Australian version of Big Brother have been booted out for alleged sexual assault.

Michael Cox, 20, and Michael Brice, 21, were marched from the house compound on Saturday.

180 AUSTRALIA big brother logo

Australian Big Brother

Footage appeared to show Brice holding a female housemate down while Cox dangled his genitals in her face.

Police were called in after the early morning incident but later said they would lay no charges.

In a statement, the two removed housemates said: "It's unfortunate it had to end this way.

"But Big Brother has rules and we broke them. We would never do anything to offend our fellow housemates."

The Australian Prime Minister John Howard called for the reality television programme to be cancelled.

"I think it is just a question of good taste," he said.

"Here is a great opportunity for Channel Ten to do a bit of self-regulation and get this stupid programme off the air."

The incident is the latest in a long string of complaints about the raunchy antics of the young Australian housemates.

The previous week an adults-only version of the show was dumped after complaints about excessive nudity.