It would seem that Christian groups are still grumbling about the showing of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC 2 earlier in the month. With Christian voice claiming that they will take the BBC to court on grounds of blasphemy.

Director General Mark Thompson gave a personal guarantee to Michael Grade before transmission that the show was not sacrilegious, so if the BBC are faced with any fine from the courts or from Ofcom it might well leave Mark Thompson in a very difficult position. Any such outcome would also have a disastrous effect on free expression.

Mark Thompson might take comfort from the fact that he has much support throughout the country including a number of MP�s who raised the following Early Day Motion on 17th January:

BBC AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Dr Evan Harris
Mr Graham Stringer
Glenda Jackson
Mr Harry Barnes
Dr Desmond Turner
Jane Griffiths
Paul Holmes

That this House applauds the decision by the BBC to stick by its decision to broadcast, `Jerry Springer - The Opera’ on BBC2 on 8th January, despite the orchestrated campaign from religious pressure groups, the irresponsible actions of one of which caused alarm and distress to the families of BBC executives by making public their contact details and exposing them to hate attacks;

believes that individuals have a choice whether or not to watch programmes which they are warned might be offensive to them, and that broadcasters have the right and duty to broadcast a variety of work, some of which may receive differing critical opinions;

recognises that in any case this particular programme was of undoubted artistic merit as demonstrated by the opera having attracted a record number of awards, and substantial theatre audiences;

reminds the BBC that its own study What the World Thinks of God suggested Britain was the most religiously sceptical country in the world and that as a publicly-funded national broadcaster the Corporation has a duty to reflect society in its output which will entail broadcasting programmes which some religious people find offensive;

and calls on the BBC to stand firm against the increasingly assertive religious pressure being applied to restrict freedom of expression.