A BBC spokesman denied a report in The Independent newspaper that White Clouds was being demoted because it was not being shown on BBC One or Two.

Culture channel BBC Four enjoys only a limited audience, although it has built on its opening night audience of 11,000.

It is only available through digital TV.

Potter was one of Britain's greatest playwrights

White Clouds was finished shortly before Potter's death in 1994.

The spokesman also denied the newspaper's assertion that the play was being snubbed because of it low-budget approach with no costumes or props.

"It's a bit rich to say that White Clouds has been 'relegated' to BBC Four," he said.

"It was commissioned for BBC Four, and was announced as being part of the digital channel's line-up when it was launched earlier this year.

"It's an experimental format that will give viewers a taster of the work, rather than being a fully-mounted production."

Comic thriller

In 1996 the BBC and Channel 4 collaborated to show the linked dramas Karaoke and Cold Lazarus, one of Potter's last projects.

The cast for White Clouds includes Janet Suzman, Trainspotting star Kevin McKidd and rising star Rachael Stirling.

Based on the novel Cara Massimina by Tim Parks, White Clouds is a comic thriller which tells the story of an underpaid English teacher in Italy who attempts to infiltrate Verona's high society.

Morris Duckworth tries to marry his way to wealth by exploiting the affections of the teenage Massimina, and eventually they run off together, sparking a web of intrigue.