THE WHO - THE WHO ARREST TO BE AIRED

THE WHO star PETE TOWNSHEND's pleas to prevent footage of his child porn arrest entering the public domain have been ignored - a new TV documentary will broadcast his dramatic interview with police.

Townshend, 58, appears in the series POLICE PROTECTING CHILDREN, and features the guitarist being questioned at Twickenham Police Station, England, facing accusations he downloaded child pornography on the internet.

The programme's producer BOB LONG says, "Our footage shows a living legend reduced to being asked if he has learning difficulties. It's a big leveller."

The film-makers spent 18 months following Scotland Yard's Child Protection Team when they caught the Townshend episode.

Long adds Townshend's lawyers "would have given anything for the documentary not to happen". However, he is not taking legal action.

The rocker was cautioned and had his name placed on the sex offenders' register after admitting once using his credit card to access child pornography. Townshend has always maintained he was researching the website for a campaign against internet porn involving kids.