Ofcom: Atkinson's bible spoof was not offensive

We Are Most Amused, which aired on 15 November 2008 at 8:35pm, featured a sketch in which Atkinson played a Christian clergyman delivering a comedic version of a biblical miracle story - the Wedding Feast at Cana.

Atkinson delivered the sketch as if reciting from the bible when he described Jesus turning water into wine, describing the event as if it was a magic trick.

It included the lines: “And they said unto the Lord:‘How the hell did you do that?' And inquired of him: ‘Do you do children's parties?' And the Lord said: ‘No.' But the servants did press him, saying: ‘Go on, give us another one'.”

Viewers complained that as the monologue continued, Atkinson described Jesus making a white rabbit appear and sawing a woman in half, adding that when the Romans saw his miracles, “they absolutely crucified him.”

The complainants considered the sketch to be offensive and blasphemous, while some questioned whether a similar sketch would be permissible if the subject had been another religion, such as Islam.

Ofcom is not required to determine whether the broadcaster committed blasphemy, but whether it had caused general offence. It found 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.

Meanwhile, Ofcom also threw out 59 complaints against the British Comedy Awards, also broadcast on ITV. Of the complaints, 51 argued that it breached generally accepted standards, seven decried its “offensive” language and one complained on sex/nudity grounds.

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