Monty Python's Life of Brian debate

On a memorable episode of "Friday Night, Saturday Morning," 9 November 1979, hosted by Tim Rice, a discussion was held about the then newly released film Monty Python's Life of Brian, which had been banned by many local councils and caused protests throughout the world with accusations that it was blasphemous. To argue in favour of this accusation were veteran broadcaster and noted Christian Malcolm Muggeridge, and Mervyn Stockwood (the then Bishop of Southwark). In defence of the film were two members of the Monty Python team, John Cleese and Michael Palin.
Unfortunately much of the discussion hit an impasse due to Malcolm and Mervyns refusal to accept that Brian wasn't meant to be Jesus, Palin later revealed that the reason for Malcolm and Mervyns error was that the TV studio had funded their meal and cinema ticket, but they missed the first 15 minutes of the film because they were still having after-dinner drinks at the bar, so completely missed the opening scene where Jesus is giving the sermon on the mount when Brian and his mother leave because they can't hear Jesus from the back.

[@elizabethwarne2379]

Man it’s crazy how the Bishop and that other guy were absolute buffoons.