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Last Updated: Wednesday, 10 August 2005, 08:49 GMT 09:49 UK
Controversial Popetown out on DVD
Popetown
Ruby Wax provides the Pope's voice in the satirical cartoon
A cartoon deemed too offensive to be broadcast on the BBC because of its depiction of the Pope, is to be released on DVD.

Popetown - which features corrupt cardinals and an elderly Pope on a pogo stick - was commissioned by BBC Three in 2002, but later rejected.

BBC bosses were concerned the 10-part animation, set in a fictional Vatican, would offend Catholics.

It features comics Matt Lucas, Bob Mortimer and Mackenzie Crook.

Crook, who starred in The Office, also wrote some of the episodes.

Popetown director Phil Ox said: "I am glad this DVD is finally out there."

The show also includes the voices of comedienne Ruby Wax as the pontiff and model Jerry Hall as a fame-hungry nun,

'Scurrilous'

"Many Catholics view this as an irreverent, gratuitous and publicly funded attack on their faith," said Joseph Devine, Bishop of Motherwell.

But Mr Ox took a more light-hearted stance, jokingly warning that "viewing this show can destroy your soul".

Last year BBC Three controller Stuart Murphy said it had been an "extremely difficult" decision to pull the show.

"There is a fine judgement line in comedy between the scurrilously funny and the offensive," he said.

"Once we saw the finished series, it became clear that the programme fell on the wrong side of that line."




SEE ALSO:
TV festival probes viewers' anger
19 Jul 05 |  TV and Radio
BBC pulls controversial Popetown
23 Sep 04 |  TV and Radio
Church accuses BBC of 'prejudice'
04 Feb 04 |  Scotland


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