BBC boss defends Springer show

BBC bosses have defended the corporation's decision to show the controversial screen version of "Jerry Springer - The Opera", on Saturday night.

13:31 08 January 2005

BBC bosses have defended the corporation's decision to show the controversial screen version of "Jerry Springer - The Opera", on Saturday night.

Mark Thompson, the BBC's director general, says that as a practicing Christian, he believes there is nothing blasphemous in the production, which has been condemned by some faith groups for its religious themes and swearing levels.

"This will enable people who haven't been able to see it on stage to see it," said Mr Thompson, stressing that the show was being screened after the watershed with "very, very clear" warnings about strong language.

"People say to us 'why can't you treat us like adults, it's our choice, why don't you let us choose what we see and hear?" added the BBC boss.

The corporation has reportedly received over 40,000 complaints against the planned screening of the show, which features a sequence in which Jesus and the Devil contest each other to a swearing match and a tap dance routine by the Ku Klux Klan.

Yesterday, Christian demonstrators gathered outside the BBC's Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush, London and set fire to their television licences in protest at the corporation's decision to air the colourful musical, which is based on the brash American talk show, fronted by Jerry Springer.

Organiser of the protest, self-styled bishop Mike Reid, told the Reuters news agency he thought the musical was "filth."

"The use of foul language together with mocking Jesus Christ and portraying him wearing a nappy with sequins is highly offensive to Christians and we felt that it was totally wrong," he said.

Meanwhile, the star of the West End hit, David Soul has defended the BBC's decision to screen the production, written by composer Richard Thomas and comedian Stewart Lee.

"Believe me, this show would never have gotten to where it is today if it was simply about blasphemy and bad language," Soul told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.