Dozens of viewers have complained about a sketch on Channel 4's Bremner, Bird and Fortune on Sunday that suggested that Gordon Brown would find Madeleine McCann on the eve of an election.
Media regulator Ofcom said it had received 32 complaints, while Channel 4 also confirmed it had received "a number" of complaints, although it would not release a figure.
Viewers complained over what they saw as insensitivity while the search for Madeleine - who was taken from her Portuguese hotel room in May - continues.
The sketch, which was performed on Rory Bremner's Channel 4 satirical comedy show on Sunday night, suggested that Mr Brown was so desperate for an election win that he would produce Madeleine on the eve of a poll in order to secure votes.
Sunday's episode, which aired at 7pm, was watched by 1.3 million viewers - a 6% share of the audience.
One viewer who complained, David Cairnie, said he found the sketch "despicable".
"I wish to register my abhorrence at a supposed 'joke' proffered by Bremner, Bird and Fortune," he added.
"They suggested that Gordon Brown might produce and hold up Madeleine McCann on the eve of an election as a vote-winning move. It seems that Channel 4 has reached a new level in despicable taste."
A Channel 4 spokesman defended the sketch, saying it was not aimed at the McCanns but at politicians.
"The sketch satirised the lengths to which politicians would go to win public support, following press criticism of the timing of Gordon Brown's visit to Iraq in the run up to a snap general election," the spokesman added.
"We can assure you the sketch was not aimed at the McCann family, but was clearly directed at politicians and their opportunistic publicity stunts. It was certainly never Channel 4's intention to offend or cause distress to the family or to our viewers."
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