A "CRUDE and explicit" West End play is too vulgar for the BBC and should be pulled from the air, says MP Peter Luff.

Cult show Jerry Springer - The Opera, which contains more than 8,000 obscenities, is due to be aired on BBC2 on Saturday, but Mid-Worcestershire MP Mr Luff has written to BBC director-general Mark Thompson urging him to axe it.

"I consider myself to be broad-minded, but this show was seriously objectionable," said Mr Luff, who saw the play at London's Cambridge Theatre.

Inspired by the outrageous American chat show hosted by the British-born Jerry

Springer, the production has picked up four awards since its debut in 2003.

But the show could offend religious groups as it contains blasphemous scenes, says Mr Luff.

"I do not believe in censorship, and I will defend robustly the right of a theatre to put on a play that some find offensive," he said

"But to show it on television where there is a danger children could see it is irresponsible.

"I am bitterly disappointed an organisation for which I have such high regard should betray its public duty in this way."

Christine Wargent, of Worcester Operatic and Amateur Dramatic Society, criticised Mr Luff's comments.

"Politicians should stick to running the country and let people decide for themselves what to watch," she said.

A BBC spokesman defended its decision to broadcast the show.

"Jerry Springer - The Opera is a multi-award winning show," she said.

"It has been widely written about so there will be many viewers who can not get to see it in the theatre in London who will welcome the opportunity to watch it."

The show will be broadcast at 10pm with a warning beforehand.

The show contains 3,168 mentions of the f-word and 297 of the c-word.

Scenes include tap-dancing Ku Klux Klan members and a slanging match between Jesus and Satan.

Starsky and Hutch actor David Soul takes the lead role.