BBC Radio producer speaks on Cross Rhythms of resignation in response to "Jerry Springer" broadcast
Antony Pitts, interviewed on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme yesterday (Thursday), and until this week Senior Producer with BBC Radio 3, spoke out on Cross Rhythms City Radio today about his resignation following BBC 2's showing of the controversial 'Jerry Springer: The Opera' programme last Saturday (8th January).

In a live interview on Cross Rhythms' lunchtime show, 'Community Vision', Antony Pitts described how he watched the show on Saturday night and was "amazed by the blasphemy, and amazed that anybody who understands that Jesus is a person, a person that lived on earth, a person that is God and that is alive, could not be deeply upset by what was portrayed."

After speaking for an hour on Monday morning with Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC, Antony felt that "someone within the BBC needed to be able to stand up, to be able to speak out publicly and say these things, and so I resigned in order to do that."

His comments expressed a sense of commitment to see the BBC return to its original sense of calling. He explained,

"I've done this because I actually care very deeply about what the BBC does, what it stands for, its role in the country. It was intended to be a beacon of inspiration for the country...The BBC is about leading the people, leading in the sense of being a light to the country...not simply a mirror reflecting everything, including all the worst tendency in our own nature. The BBC has an incredibly important role, and I've taken this step because I want the BBC to get back and to rediscover that role."

Cross Rhythms City Radio broadcasts on 101.8 FM from the former BBC studios in Stoke-on-Trent, and also on SKY Digital Channel 876, and online (www.crossrhythms.co.uk/radio).

NOTE TO EDITORS

A recording of the full interview is available from Cross Rhythms City Radio.

Contact: Jonathan Bellamy, General Manager, Cross Rhythms City Radio, 01782 251000, mobile 07957 433975; jonathan.bellamy@crossrhythms.co.uk

Thursday 20 January 2005