SOUTHAMPTON'S Mayflower theatre was offered the chance to stage the highly controversial musical Jerry Springer The Opera but turned it down - not for its religious implications but because they did not think it would be commercially viable.

The theatre was initially offered the chance to stage the show this autumn but then its promoters changed the dates to next April.

The musical, which has been pulled from its scheduled runs at Portsmouth Guildhall and the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, has been the subject of huge controversy since it hit the West End last year because of what Christian groups call its filthy and blasphemous content.

The show centres on American talk show host Jerry Springer and features God, Mary and Joseph, and a nappy-wearing Jesus who admits to being "a bit gay".

It also includes more than 300 swear words. Mayflower chief exe cutive Dennis Hall said none of this influenced his decision in any way to turn down the musical.

"There were two factors that made us turn it down and neither of them was based on religion," said Mr Hall.

"I did not believe it would be commercially viable at the box office and that was my honest opinion.

"We were offered Miss Saigon at the same time and for me that was the more lucrative of the two productions. The fact is we could have had Jerry Springer for two weeks or Miss Saigon for six.

"I was never fazed by the religious implications of putting on the show.

"I would only ever consider it on its merits."

However, Mr Hall has not completely ruled out the show coming to The Mayflower.

He said: "If the conditions were right and we were offered it again, I would accept it."