This special was a parody of the hysteria over paedophilia stoked by the British news media in 2000. Channel 4 received over 3,000 complaints and the network issued a public apology. Politicians also condemned the programme but many of them admitted that they had not actually seen it. Christopher Morris never publicly addressed the controversy.
Rock drummer Phil Collins, who was tricked into taking part and wore a t-shirt with the slogan "Nonce Sense", subsequently claimed the makers of the programme had "serious taste problems" and took legal advice. He claimed the show would "probably now affect many celebrities' willingness to support public spirited causes in the future and it's not difficult to see why".
On the Father Ted (1995) Audio Commentary, Graham Linehan mentions that although this Brass Eye episode received an enormous number of complaints, it received a greater number of compliments.
The child actor who played Christopher Morris's son was not present when Morris asks Simon Pegg's character if he wants to have sex with the boy. The boy's reaction shots were shot separately.
Richard Blackwood, who was tricked into taking part, said of the show "if you think that kiddie porn is funny you should have a good laugh" and claimed "the joke is on us and also on every other charity working in the field of child protection".