The BBC's controversial broadcast of the musical, Jerry Springer – The Opera has had an action put forward against it for Judicial Review by a Christian group. BBC2 broadcast the show despite a huge outcry from Christian campaigners earlier this year in January, and as a result received a record 47,000 complaints even before it was aired.
The Christian Institute has taken up the matter as it says the programme breached the BBC’s charter as well as infringing the Human Rights Act by discriminating against Christians.
A BBC spokesperson has reported that the corporation received legal papers on 3rd March and that the matter will be dealt with by their legal department. The matter will now go before a High Court Judge who will then decide whether the BBC will have to defend itself against the allegations regarding the screening of the programme.
The Newcastle-based Christian Institute has been sure to report that they are not the same organisation as Christian Voice, which has received high publicity over recent weeks regarding its protests against the Springer Opera.
The Christian Institute has said that the BBC broke the section of its charter that states that it must uphold the standards of taste, as well as following broadcasting standards guidelines.
The director of Christian Institute, Colin Hart called the Springer Opera "the most offensive and spiteful show ever broadcast by the BBC. There may be many shows running in West End theatres that I find offensive, but I am not paying for them to be pumped into my living room."
Hart concluded, "I am appalled that a publicly-funded body should be so contemptuous of the people who pay for its upkeep. The BBC has a duty to respect the religious beliefs of its viewers."