BBC chiefs facing blasphemy action

BBC chiefs are facing legal action for blasphemy after screening the controversial musical Jerry Springer: The Opera.

And guards have been brought in to protect the homes of BBC executives responsible for broadcasting the show which was watched by 1.8 million people on Saturday evening.

BBC2 controller Roly Keating and director of television Jana Bennett have fled their London homes following death threats against them.

Their private addresses were published on the website of religious lobby group Christian Voice, whose members burned their licence fees in protest at the programme.

The organisation today revealed it now plans to prosecute the BBC and the West End's Cambridge Theatre, where the play is staged.

They say the musical is blasphemous because it includes scenes depicting Jesus, God, Mary and Satan - along with use of strong language.

One scene portrays a nappywearing Jesus confessing he is a "bit gay".

"If this is not blasphemy, nothing is," Christian Voice director Stephen Green said. "There will be nothing sacred if we cannot successfully prosecute the BBC.

"They've gone out of their way to insult Christianity, which is something they would not do to Muslims, Hindus or Sikhs."

He was unrepentant over the tactics his group used to protest - including publishing the private addresses of the BBC executives responsible.

"It reflects that we have no confidence in the current channels of complaint," added Mr Green. "These people are public figures and the information is in the public domain."

Mr Keating's wife Caroline is reported to have been "terrified" by malevolent letters, phone calls and emails. It is believed she took their three children into hiding before the show was screened.

The BBC and media watchdog Ofcom received a record 47,000 complaints in the run-up to the show and 300 afterwards.