Britain’s public broadcaster said on Saturday it would press ahead with plans to televise Jerry Springer — The Opera, despite receiving a record number of complaints before the expletive heavy musical has even aired.
The British Broadcasting Corporation said they had received 40 000 complaints regarding plans to broadcast the West End show, inspired by Springer’s trashy United States television talk programme.
The stage show, which features songs titled Pregnant By A Transsexual and Here Come The Hookers peppered with obscenities, has drawn the ire of church and media lobby groups.
Christian groups have said the show, which portrays Jesus Christ in a nappy admitting he is a ”bit gay,” mocks Christianity.
Leader of the Christian People’s Alliance Party Alan Craig demanded the controller of BBC2, the station which is screening the programme, be sacked over his decision to show it.
While lobby group Mediawatch UK has attacked the level of swearing.
Critics claim the show has 8 000 swear words. That figure is calculated by multiplying the number of obscenities by the 27 members of the chorus who sing the opera’s expletive laden songs.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said strong language warnings would precede the programme, which will be screened from 10pm on Saturday.
”This will enable people who haven’t been able to see it on stage to see it,” Thompson said.
”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?”’ he said. – Sapa-AP