mediawatchwatch.org.uk

In what is proving to be a frustrating few days for everyone’s favourite comedy Christian, Stephen “Birdshit” Green of biblical fundamentalist group Stephen Green’s voice (aka Christian Voice), Ofcom ruled Rowan Atkinson’s “wedding feast at Cana” sketch in We Are Not Amused to be “not in breach” of the broadcasting code.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo0FtMg1L1c[/youtube]
(Sketch starts about 1:50 in)

As we reported back in November, Green sent out a circular saying:

It was just insulting, mocking, crass and disrespectful. Civilised, decent people do not behave like that. Plainly Atkinson thinks there is not enough disrespect in our society already today.

In its report, Ofcom said that:

There was evidence that the complaints were part of an orchestrated campaign.

And concluded, in a tone pleasingly reminiscent of someone explaining the obvious to a halfwit,

this was a comedy sketch, by a performer well-known for his depictions of clergymen in comedic situations. The sketch was an absurd interpretation of a well-known biblical miracle story, and was not intended as a serious interpretation of Christian belief, nor would it be realistic to make such an inference. It superimposed onto the original story, the concept of how some people might react today, if Jesus were to appear in modern society. In making an analogy between miracles and magic, the comedian used the well-known comic device of placing theological figures in a contemporary and everyday human situation. The overall tone of the sketch was affectionate and not abusive of the Christian religion.

Ofcom considered that the approach would have been well understood by the vast majority of the audience and would not have gone beyond what would normally be expected in a programme of this type.