In a digital receiver for receiving COFDM modulated television signals or the like, consecutive samples are compared with a detection threshold and the number of samples having amplitudes greater than the threshold is determined. This is compared with a further threshold and, if the number of such samples exceeds the further threshold, affected samples are blanked to zero. Similarly, an automatic gain control loop is disabled when the samples are blanked. A demodulator forms the difference in phase of pilot carriers from symbol to symbol. If the variance of the phase differences exceeds an averaged value, this indicates the presence of impulsive noise and is used to inhibit signal correction techniques within the demodulator. Noise energy is thus reduced and propagation of effects resulting from impulsive noise from symbol to symbol is substantially reduced.