...for fear of offending Catholics

The BBC has dropped an animated comedy about the Pope for fear of offending Catholics.

Popetown was set in a fictional Vatican, with Ruby Wax playing a pogo-loving pontiff.

BBC3 controller Stuart Murphy axed the ten-part series, announced nearly two years ago as one of the jewels in his channel’s comedy crown, after a concerted protest by Catholics.

On online petition calling for the series to be banned attracted thousands of signatures, with many protesters saying they would withhold their licence fee if the show went ahead.

Murphy, himself a Catholic, said: "Popetown was a challenging project for BBC3 to undertake.

"After a lot of consideration and consultation, balancing the creative risk with the potential offence to some parts of the audience, we have decided not to transmit the programme.

"Despite all of the creative energy that has gone into this project and the best efforts of everyone involved, the comic impact of the delivered series does not outweigh the potential offence it will cause.

"It has been an extremely difficult and complex decision to make. There is a fine judgement line in comedy between the scurrilously funny and the offensive.

 "I knew when we developed the series that there was risk involved but unfortunately, once we saw the finished series, it became clear that the programme fell on the wrong side of that line."

The corporation’s director of television, Jana Bennett, added: "I'm sorry that this programme will not be coming to the screen, but I think the decision is the right one.

"Risk taking, however, is a key part of the role of BBC3, and Stuart and the channel will continue to break new ground in the notoriously difficult area of comedy. "

Matt Lucas, Mackenzie Crook, Jerry Hall, Bob Mortimer and Kevin Eldon also voiced parts in the show, made by Channel X, the production company set up by Jonathan Ross.

Managing director Alan Marke said: "I am incredibly disappointed about this decision as I am very proud of this project and all the talent involved.

"But I understand the world has changed since the series was originally commissioned and sympathise with the difficult decision the BBC has had to make."

The show was originally scheduled for broadcast nearly a year ago.

Despite its decision, the BBC is considering selling the series on video and syndicating it worldwide to help recoup some of the cost of the series.

Published: 23 Sep 2004