Channel 4 will broadcast footage of an erect penis on Monday night in what is believed to be a British broadcasting first.

Me and My Penis, a one-off documentary, features a group of men discussing their penises, sex and masturbation as well as stripping off for the camera as part of an exploration of the taboos around male genitalia.

According to The Sun, in one scene, one of the "well-endowed" participants "stands to attention in explicit, close-up shots".

A Channel 4 source told the newspaper: "This shatters one of the final no-go areas on terrestrial TV, because regulations forbid an erect penis being shown in a sexual context. But as these aroused private parts are shown in an entirely artistic context, filming them doesn't break any rules.

"Channel 4 also clearly feel that in more open-minded times, there's likely to be fewer complaints from viewers — particularly as the show airs at 10pm which is well after the watershed."

Me and My Penis airs on Channel 4 at 10pm on Monday night.