VETERAN broadcaster Gordon Burns encouraged the UK's Information Commissioner to impart with — information.

Christopher Graham, was the special guest in the popular 'An Evening with...' University of Bolton series.

Mr Graham spoke about his career as a councillor in Liverpool to overseeing the enforcement of the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts.

He also discussed the most controversial commercials he dealt with during his time at the Advertising Standards Agency, new legislation set to change the way companies deal with data protection and how to respond to cold calls.

Mr Graham's roles included Secretary of the BBC, before becoming Director General of the Advertising Standards Authority.

In conversation with Mr Burns, the commissioner examined some of the more controversial advertisements including the Yves St Laurent advert from 2001 which featured the model Sophie Dahl naked.

Mr Graham said: "It’s not a question of taste or decency, those are not what the rules were, it was whether an ad would cause serious or widespread offence. On posters in the street this advert was causing real upset."

After 948 complaints the advert was removed, but it was not the most controversial one he recalled.

Mr Graham added: "The most complained about advert during my time — and in fact the most complained about advert ever — was for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

"It was not about sex, the product, a dodgy advertising claim, it was about table manners. That’s what the Great British public is really concerned about."

Christopher Graham left the authority in 2009 to take up his independent position as Information Commissioner, reporting directly to Parliament.

The appearance, last Thursday, attracted a protest by a small group of campaigners who claim the university has consistently refused to respond to freedom of information requests.

One campaigner said that at a recent tribunal the Information Commission ruled that the requests were vexatious as they had been submitted as part of an "organised campaign".

The protesters say the decision is currently being appealed as the campaign was only launched following the refusal of one initial request.

A spokesman from the university said: "The university has been subjected to an on-going vexatious FOI campaign, a view that was supported by the Information Commission.

"As this outcome is currently in an appeal process it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time."