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The investigation identified serious editorial issues in 'Soapstar Superstar', which was broadcast this year; 'Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway' in 2006 and 2006, and 'Ant and Dec's Gameshow Marathon' in 2005.

The review also found serious technical issues around the use of the red button for voting and the late arrival of SMS text votes on five occasions, affecting two ITV shows including the 'X Factor' final in 2005.

ITV has suspended with immediate effect all SMS and red button voting in live programmes, until the network and platform operators can reassure the broadcaster that appropriate systems are in place.

Michael Grade, ITV's executive chairman, came under attack from journalists in a conference call this morning for not publishing the full report. He argued that it contains confidential information about their whistle-blowing process and third parties.

He refused to be drawn on questions about staff disciplinary action and said the interactive services would be and up and running as soon as the providers improve their systems.

Grade attempted to ward off criticism in a statement issued by ITV, in which he tried to restore public trust in its programming by outlining a package of measures including the suspension of SMS and red button services to address issues raised in the report.

Grade said: "Today marks a major milestone in our efforts to restore public trust and put our house in order after a series of events that have affected not just us, but the entire broadcasting industry."

He continued: "It is only by understanding how things went wrong in the past, and being open about them, that we can be sure that we get them right now and in the future."

ITV has promised to reimburse viewers through a freephone telephone number and has set aside £7.8m, with the right to claim at any time before February 29 2008.

The broadcaster is to bring its telephony service provision in-house on programmes made by ITV Productions, and has begun working with BT on a way to do this.

A new training programme is being developed to ensure employees are aware of their responsibilities in relation to the operation of interactive services and, in a separate move, a dedicated Interactive Governance team is being created.

The team is being set up to ensure its compliance resources are strong and that ITV meets the highest standards in the television industry.

The report, which comes after it appointed Deloitte to carry out a review in March and at the same time suspended all premium rate service activity, has led ITV to set aside an exceptional operating charge of £18m.

The charge includes the £7.8m set aside to reimburse viewers, the £2m Ofcom fine on GMTV in September (ITV is a 75% shareholder in GMTV), costs of £2m incurred in the process and a £5m pre-exceptional operating charge taken at the half-year results.