We
Are Most Amused
ITV1, 15 November 2008, 20:35
We Are Most Amused was a special comedy gala performance held to mark
the sixtieth birthday of the Prince of Wales. The show included many of
the UK’s leading comedians.
Ofcom received 540 complaints concerning a sketch, included in the
programme, featuring Rowan Atkinson. In the sketch, Rowan Atkinson
played a Christian clergyman delivering a comedic version of a biblical
miracle story – the Wedding Feast at Cana.
The complainants considered the sketch to be offensive and blasphemous,
and some complainants questioned whether a similar sketch would be
permissible if the subject had been one of the world’s other religions,
such as Islam. There was evidence that the complaints were part of an
orchestrated campaign. [Stephen Green's
Christian Voice being previously noted as organising such a campaign]
Playing the clergyman, Rowan Atkinson delivered the sketch as if
reciting from the bible to a congregation. He described Jesus turning
water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, and said:
And when the steward of the feast did taste
of the water from the pots, it had become wine. And he knew not
whence it had come. But the servants did know, and they applauded
loudly in the kitchen. 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’.
Further on in the sketch, Ofcom noted there were the following passages:
…and he did place a large red cloth over the
carrot and then removed it. And lo, he held in his hand a white
rabbit. And all were amazed, and said: ‘This guy is really good; he
should turn professional’. And there came unto him a woman called
Mary…and Jesus said unto her: ‘Put on a tutu and lie down in this
box’. And took he forth a saw and cleft her in twain.
…And he did go unto Jerusalem, and he did his full act before the
Scribes, and the Pharisees, and the Romans. But alas, it did not
please them in their hearts. In fact they absolutely crucified him.
Ofcom considered these complaints under Rule 2.3 (material that may
cause offence must be justified by the context).
Ofcom Decision
Many complainants accused ITV of blasphemy. Ofcom is not required to
determine whether the ITV committed blasphemy, but whether, in this
case, the provisions of its Code had been breached.
Comedy has a long tradition of tackling challenging and sensitive
subjects, such as religion. It is important and necessary, in line with
freedom of expression, that broadcasters can explore such matters.
Therefore broadcasters are free to include treatments, comedic or
otherwise, of any religion, as long as they comply with the Code.
In particular, 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. Therefore, the
programme was not in breach of Rule 2.3.
