BBC scared to broadcast Muslim jokes, says comedian

London, Apr.3 : Comedian and writer Ben Elton has claimed that the BBC is too "scared" to broadcast Muslim jokes for fear of antagonising the community.

In an interview with the Christian magazine Third Way, Elton said BBC would "let vicar gags pass but would not let imam gags pass".

Elton told the magazine how he had sat on a panel and suggested a joke involving Mohammed, which was rejected.

"I wanted to use the phrase 'Muhammad came to the mountain' and everybody said, 'Oh, don't! Just don't! Don't go there!'

"It was nothing to do with Islam, I was merely referring to the old proverb, 'If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain.' And people said, 'Let's just not!'"

A BBC spokeswoman, however, rebutted the suggestion, saying: "No subject is off limits for BBC comedy."

The 48-year-old writer of Queen musical We Will Rock You, professed to being an atheist, but said he did occasionally go to church and sent his children to Church of England schools.

ANI