Are You Having A Laugh? - Comedy And Christianity

From Life Of Brian and Father Ted to The Vicar Of Dibley and Rev., our country holds a strong tradition of Christian-based comedy.

In recent years, Christ has become a favourite subject for atheist comics on the stand-up circuit. To mark Holy Week, Ann Widdecombe investigates why Christianity is such ripe material for mocking by comedians. By looking at how some of our favourite comedies have portrayed the faith, Ann asks if there has been a shift to more offensive forms of comedy in recent years. Is mockery of all elements of the Christian faith offensive? Should no subject be beyond critique? Does Ann have a point when she claims her faith is subject to harsher criticism than other faiths?

With interviews from Life Of Brian director Terry Jones about the controversy surrounding the film's release, Marcus Brigstocke on the force of new atheism in comedy, as well as insight from broadcaster and comedian Steve Punt; Baroness Sayeeda Warsi; former archbishop Lord George Carey; writer and producer of Citizen Khan, Anil Gupta; Christian comic and writer of Miranda, Paul Kerensa; the 'real Rev', Reverend Paul Turp; Cole Moreton, author of Is God Still An Englishman?; Medieval historian Alixe Bovey; and professors in the sociology of religion, Linda Woodhead and Gordon Lynch.