Suicide bomber comedy rejected by BBC and C4

Channel 4 and the BBC have refused to commission a new comedy about a wannabe suicide bomber by Brass Eye creator Chris Morris.

It is believed the programme, about a jihadist cell in the North of England, was deemed unsuitable for prime-time audiences.

The film is Morris's first major venture since Nathan Barley, a satirical comedy about "cool" Londoners. He is best known for his cult TV show Brass Eye.

In 2001 he was slammed over a "Paedophile Special" episode, which generated 2,000 complaints and resulted in politicians condemning-Morris. A source close to the new project said it had effectively been refused because of its subject matter. The source said: "It is subject matter that needs debate and is absolutely hilarious."

The programme's producer said Morris had carried out research to ensure the programme was acceptable to the Muslim community. Mark Herbert, from Warp Films, said: "Chris's research has been meticulous. It is fatwa-proof."

A BBC source said they had given the comedy serious consideration.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: "Channel 4 has a long history of working with Chris Morris, and a significant funding contribution towards his latest project is being made.

"It was agreed at a very early stage that the project would work best as a film and from this point was developed through Film4."