BBC defends The Goes Wrong Show Christmas special after complaints it is an ‘insult to Christian religion’

Bosses said they ‘never set out to mock or undermine’ people’s beliefs and experiences

The Goes Wrong Show (BBC)

The BBC has defended The Goes Wrong Show Christmas special following viewer complaints.

In the 30-minute festive play, which aired in December, the fictional Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society put on a disastrous Nativity, in which the baby Jesus is eaten by a sheep.

Some viewers condemned the show, with one Twitter user calling it “appalling and an insult to the Christian religion.”

“What a disgrace,” said another. “I am a Christian and found the show totally unacceptable.”

In response, the BBC said in a statement: “While it’s never our intention to offend or upset our viewers with what we show, it is perhaps inevitable that some aspects of our programmes will occasionally strike some in our audience as inappropriate. This is especially so within comedy; one of the most subjective areas of programming.”

It continued: “Our Editorial Guidelines uphold the right to freedom of expression and the right of programme-makers to include material which some members of the audience may find inappropriate or offensive.    

“However, we are always very conscious of how jokes might resonate with those with direct experience of the subjects we cover, and we never set out to mock or undermine their beliefs and experiences.”

Despite the criticism, many others thoroughly enjoyed the programme, with Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker tweeting: “Once again brilliant family entertainment with a proper old-school feel.”