...but their complaints are rejected

BBC chiefs have rejected complaints that Radio 4’s News Quiz was offensive to Christians.

Listeners complained about the May 15 episode of the show, in which panellists joked about the Pope membership of the Hitler Youth, and about a Polish Catholic priest who was writing a sex manual online.

However, the BBC said because of the satirical nature of the programme, the panellists ‘should be afforded a broad licence when improvising their responses’.

But the programme complaints unit conceded: ‘This can result in some listeners, particularly those with strong political or religious views, being offended. This joke did not set out to offend. However, we understand why some listeners might have been upset by the surreal exchange.’

It is not known which joke was complained about, or how many complaints were received.

The panel joked about two stories concerning Catholics that week. The first about the Pope’s visit to the Middle East, during which a spokesman denied the Pontiff had been in the Hitler Youth, despite admitting it in his autobiography.

During the following discussions, host Sandi Toksvig commented on his traditional robes, saying: ‘I love the red shoes, There’s a touch of Dorothy about the shoes isn’t there?’

The discussion moved on to the Popemoblie, when journalist Hugo Rifkin revealed that early designs featured gun turrets – which was rejected because: ‘It was decided it wouldn’t look for the Pope to shoot back.’

The second story, about the priest’s sex manual, involved jokes about his celibacy.

Guest Josie Long joked that his advice included ‘having a saucy and fantasy-packed sex life – or in his case and entirely fantasy-based one’.

It was also suggested that since the tips were based on what he was told, they were likely to revolve around the ‘nasty and depraved’ tales he hears in the confessional.

The conversation then span out into a discussion of why sex is like football because ‘you can’t foul or kick a ball out’,

This is not the first time the News Quiz has angered Christians. In April, vicar Simon Douglas Lane accused the broadcaster of bias against the religion, raising the familiar argument that the BBC was too scared to mock other faiths.

The vicar said: ‘I have noticed in recent weeks an unremitting assault on the Christian faith whether from Jeremy Hardy on The News Quiz, Andy Hamilton on Old Harry’s Game and in The Now Show which had an extended pop at Christianity.

‘By all means take the rise out Christianity but what about Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, one could go on.

‘Are the others spared in case thought racist. Would Islam be an open house if the media were not afraid of reprisals? I would be grateful to hear why so many of the Radio 4 comedy programmes go for the home faith.’

Published: 13 Jul 2009