Jerry Springer

What a strange world we live in. After Jerry Springer, The Opera had been showing in theatres for some time, the BBC decided to put it on TV, and protest exploded. Too much swearing, and some blasphemy, are the claims.

Here's the question, then: if a body of people agree that such a show offends their religion, should it be banned? Is that freedom or censorship? Is it right?

The Opera was shown yesterday on the Beeb; some little time ago, a play which was said to be insulting to the Sikh religion was dropped because of fears of violence.

Have we two standards here when we ought to have only one, and which one should it be?

I can only say that if the opera is anything like the original Springer show, then I'd rather be trapped in a lift with an incontinent hippopotamus.