Thompson escapes blasphemy case over 'Jerry Springer'

A Christian pressure group has failed to have BBC director general Mark Thompson charged with blasphemy for his part in broadcasting Jerry Springer - the Operaon BBC2 in 2005.

A Christian pressure group has failed to have BBC director general Mark Thompson charged with blasphemy for his part in broadcasting Jerry Springer - the Operaon BBC2 in 2005.

The case was brought by Stephen Green of Christian Voice, who gave evidence to Horseferry Magistrate's Court on Monday 8 January. He was attempting to get a summons issued in a private prosecution of Thompson and the show's producer Jonathan Thoday.

Green said: 'There is an ancient law against blasphemy in this land because the law believes it should not occur. It is as simple as that. If artistic people do not know where or how to stop as they push against the boundaries of decency, then the law must step in and tell them.'

But magistrates have since decided to throw the case out and reject the grounds for a private prosecution.

In 2005 Green published the home addresses of BBC executives on the internet to encourage people to lobby them for the show to be cancelled.