Children's charities and others have been lobbying for a change because of worries that some TV programmes could be harming the children involved in them.
In the Channel 4 reality TV show Boys and Girls alone, 20 children under 11 were left to their
own devices in an isolated cottage, and in Channel 4's Wife Swap (pictured right), parents swap families. Both shows have raised concerns about the emotional welfare of the children involved.
Children's secretary Ed Balls said, "As a country, we want to continue celebrating the brilliant performances of children in stage shows like Billy Elliott or programmes like Britain's Got Talent, and it is right that our talented children should continue aspiring to appear on those stages.
“We also benefit as a country from the careful and sensitive insight into children's lives given by films like Fish Tank or documentary programmes like My First Year.
“But where many parents, educators and ministers become concerned is when programme makers seem determined to keep pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable, to provide shock value for viewers and push up ratings, rather than to do anything positive or meaningful for our children, our culture or our country.
“The original laws were drawn up in 1968 to ensure that children could perform but without harm to their health or education and we now need to make sure they are still fit for the 21st century."
The review has been jointly commissioned by the Deparment of Children, Schools and Families, and the Department of Culture, Media and sport. It will be be carried out by Sarah Thane who chaired the Royal Television Society and is an advisor to the media regulator Ofcom.
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