Sadiq Khan's TfL bans advert for new West End play over fears it 'promotes' obesity

Almost £20,000 was spent on marketing the show and 200 posters featuring stars Ronnie Burden and Alabama Boatman were released ahead of the show’s opening night next Saturday.

TfL’s top brass banned the advertisement from tube stations across the capital after expressing concerns about the ice, two-tier Victoria sponge.

The ad reportedly breached TfL’s strict obesity rules by promoting “the consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods”.

TfL introduced its junk food advertisement ban in 2019.

It welcomed the move as “groundbreaking” to tackle child obesity across the capital.

The show mounted an appeal against the decision but was forced to cough up an extra £5,000 on a new ad campaign.

Khan, who was re-elected as London Mayor two years ago, appointed himself as TfL chair shortly after entering City Hall in 2016.

A TfL spokesman said: “We welcome all advertising on our network that complies with our published guidance.

“We are always happy to work with brands to help them follow our advertising policy.”

However, TfL came under fire earlier this year after a Tory MP urged Khan to remove a “hideous” advert which included an innuendo.

Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women & Equalities Committee, said: “Hideous advert on tube @MayorofLondon @TfL - we shouldn't have to put up with references like this on transport network, kids are seeing that every day.”