Bible Bangers Blast Blasphemous BBC Broadcast!

Protests as BBC screens Springer
The BBC is bracing itself for further criticism after it screened Jerry Springer - The Opera on Saturday.
BBC News, 10 January 2005

Hundreds of Christian protesters rallied outside BBC buildings before and during the broadcast on BBC Two.

At least 45,000 people contacted the BBC about the show, mainly to complain about swearing and religious themes.

The BBC denied reports that any bosses were in hiding after abusive phone calls, but said unpleasant calls had been received and reported to police.

Director general Mark Thompson defended the decision to screen the programme.

Mr Thompson, himself a practising Christian, said he believed there was nothing blasphemous in the production and was going out after the watershed with "very, very clear" warnings about strong language.

On Saturday, the Conservatives had joined the attack on the screening, with deputy leader Michael Ancram saying the BBC had a duty to exercise caution.

It was reported the show contained a total of 8,000 obscenities - a total reached by adding every swear word sung by each member of the 27-strong chorus.

But a BBC spokesperson said the number was less than 300 and was arrived at "even using the broadest definition of an offensive word".

And on Saturday evening, a spokeswoman said a growing number of e-mails and calls it had received were in support of the corporation's decision to screen the show, which continues to run to packed audiences in London's West End.

Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said: "I find it astonishing that Mark Thompson and David Soul [the show's star] claim they are Christians and they can see nothing wrong with Jerry Springer - The Opera.

"What kind of Christians are the sort of people who find mocking God and Jesus Christ acceptable?

"If this show portrayed Mohammed or Vishnu as homosexual, ridiculous and ineffectual, it would never have seen the light of day." … Read more at the link!

“Springer” stars David Soul, who was Starsky (or Hutch) in the TV show of the same name. Soul is Jesus, and appears in one scene in a diaper, where he says he “is a bit gay.” Also, according to the producers count, there are 117 “f-words” and 7 “c-words” spoken in the play.

Visualize the reaction, if you will, if this were shown on PBS. Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, and the Rethuglicans would probably be collecting the kindling so PBS’ executives could be burned at the stake posthaste. Then again, most Brits don’t even go to church. Hmmm.