Ben Elton: 'BBC is scared of Islam'

Ben Elton has attacked the BBC for being frightened to make jokes about Islam.

The comedy writer and performer said that the broadcaster was taking political correctness too far by allowing gags about vicars but blocking any jokes about imams.

In an interview with Christian culture magazine Third Way, Elton said: "I believe that part of it is due to the genuine fear that the authorities and the community have about provoking the radical elements of Islam.

"There’s no doubt about it, the BBC will let vicar gags pass but they would not let imam gags pass."

Elton added that the BBC pretends to block the jokes in the hope of showing sensitivity to other religions.

"It's because they’re scared," Elton said. "I wanted to use the phrase 'Mohammed came to the mountain' and everybody said, 'Oh, just 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 Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain'. And people said, 'Let’s just not!' It's incredible."

Elton sends his children to a church school but said he believed in "almost nothing" and felt that "lack of faith" should be taught in schools.

"I think the concept that faith in itself is a good thing should be questioned from day one. There’s a presumption that if you're a religious leader you are in some way already halfway up to the moral high ground and your opinion has more relevance than anyone else's."