Tim Minchin has been axed from the Jonathan Ross Show Christmas Special, after ITV's director of television "demanded" his song, comparing Woody Allen to Jesus, was cut from the show.
Writing on his blog, the Australian comedian, who was set to star in the festive episode alongside Tom Cruise and the female cast of Downton Abbey, said: "Being Christmas, I thought it would be fun to do a song about Jesus, but being TV, I knew it would have to be gentle.
"The idea was to compare him to Woody Allen (short, Jewish, philosophical, a bit hesitant), and expand into redefining his other alleged attributes using modern, popular-culture terminology."
Minchin claims it wasn't a "particularly original idea... but it's quite cute" and goes on to describe how he fretted and feared over writing a song for such a large audience, giving up the little spare time he had to be involved in the show because he likes Jonathan Ross.
He wrote: "Jonathan and his wonderful producer, Suzi, have been incredibly supportive of me and so when they asked me to write a song for their pre-Christmas show, I didn't hesitate. It was the worst possible time to be writing a new song. I've been overworked and ill, was on tour, and was really feeling the stress."
According to Minchin, who's recently collected awards for the score to West End musical Matilda, reception to the song was generally favourable until: "Someone got nervous and sent the tape to ITV's director of television, Peter Fincham.
"And Peter Fincham demanded that I be cut from the show.
"He did this because he's scared of the ranty, shit-stirring, right-wing press, and of the small minority of Brits who believe they have a right to go through life protected from anything that challenges them in any way."
UPDATE: Jonathan Ross has now commented on Minchin's axing, writing on Twitter he said: "Really gutted that the brilliant @timminchin song has been cut from my show. Decision was out of my hands."
A comment from ITV and Peter Fincham has been requested, but was not available at the time this article was published.
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