BBC Radio 4 Today:
James Naughtie asks Antony Pitts, former Senior Producer at BBC Radio 3,
why he resigned after the BBC aired Jerry Springer: The Opera


Cross Rhythms: Antony Pitts, BBC Radio 3 Senior Producer,
talks about his resignation in protest at the broadcast
of the BBC 2 programme, Jerry Springer: The Opera

timeline
May 2003: favourable review of JStO in The Daily Telegraph notes blasphemy

July 2004: new BBC complaints procedure announced

2005
5 January: Dr David Hilborn pre-broadcast exposé of JStO

9 January: Antony's resignation statement
10 January: January newsletter
11 January: Premier Radio breaks resignation news online
12 January: The Daily Telegraph breaks resignation news in print
12 January: The Guardian online
13 January: interview on BBC Radio 4 Today programme
13 January: bbc.co.uk weekly quiz
13 January: The Daily Telegraph "They see Christians as fair game"
16 January: Antony's article in The Sunday Times
19 January: The Christian Institute "BBC to face the High Court"
20 January: Christian Broadcasting Council press release
21 January: Antony's open message in reply to emails
24 January: "Springer criticises Opera musical"
January: the Green version
January: OFCOM looking into Springer broadcast
January: "Decline and Fall of the BBC"

1 February: new BBC complaints procedure with new code of practice
5 February: interview in Christian Herald
8 February: OFCOM & Government restrict broadcasting freedom
11 February: February newsletter
12 February: Antony on icn-news (Italy)
21& 25 February: interview on Channel 4 Dispatches
February/March: interview on ARD/NDR (German TV)

March: interview in Evangelicals Now
4 March: March newsletter
8 March: Mark Thompson lecture
12 March: Antony interviewed on Steel on Steel (US)
13 March: follow-up interview on icn-news (Italy)
25 March: final programme as member of BBC staff - A Passion 4 Radio
30 March: BBC rejects 63,000 complaints

1 April: "Jerry Springer opera faces court action"
19 April: April newsletter

6 May: May newsletter
9 May: OFCOM fails to act on Springer
9 May: "The programme did not contravene the Code" (OFCOM bulletin)
9 May: BBC Springer Casualty On Record (pdf)
12 May: interview on Premier Radio
13 May: "Pitts Springs Back"
May: CCTV response to OFCOM "chocolate fireguard"
21 May: mediawatch-uk AGM
25 May: OFCOM publishes new broadcasting code

June: June newsletter
June: Seven Letters CD released on Hyperion
7 June: Dutch TV (Nederland 3) takes blasphemous lead from BBC
(If you really want to see quite how offensive this programme is, search online for "God bestaat niet" & "Henk Baard")

July: July newsletter
July: interviewed for New York's Studio 360
2 July: "Notes from a journey of hope" (The Tablet)
12/14 July: interview plus performance on Inspiration Network International
16 July BBC drops "unsuitable and insensitive material"
20 July: interview on Netherlands Radio 4 Viertakt
26 July: "Jerry Springer rebel grabs Gramophone accolade"

August: offline launch of Golden Radio

September: September newsletter
13 September: first... ridicule, then contempt, then persecution
20 September: Jerry Springer opera tour goes on

October: October newsletter

...to be continued...

*Antony's full resignation statement*
(Please feel free to pass this on as appropriate)

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