THE SOPRANOS - SOPRANOS WATERED DOWN FOR TV

Hit mafia show THE SOPRANOS is being re-edited to remove all offensive language in preparation for its move to non-subscription American TV.

Nervous small screen bosses have demanded the crime caper is toned down before it is repeated on ordinary channels, following its lengthy spell on pay-to-view channel HBO.

In particular the obscene language used by TONY SOPRANO, played by JAMES GANDOLFINI in the hit TV series, is being cut to avoid upsetting mainstream America.

However CABLE CHANNEL boss SHARI ANNE BRILL doubts the softer version will please avid fans: "What's Tony going to say, 'Fiddlesticks?'"