Pervey Puppetman's Pigshow has People of Padstow Piqued

A Government minister has pledged to launch a full inquiry into the handling of complaints against a season of satirical puppet shows in the Cornish town of Padstow. The council received more than 2,000 calls about Six Little Pigs in a Shallow Grave, which conned the likes of rock star Phil Collins and presenter Richard Blackwood into raising funds to support the release of Myra Hindley.

The shows have already been condemned by Home Secretary David Blunkett, who hasn't seen them. A spokesman said: "He was pretty dismayed by the shows and did not find them remotely funny."

'Sick'
Child protection minister Beverley Hughes described it as "unspeakably sick". Now culture minister Tessa Jowell wants to get in on the act. She has pledged to look into whether the Council can deal with complaints against puppet shows quickly enough.

'Decency'
She said: "As a viewer and a parent, I think it is a great shame that a public service has chosen to perform this programme of shows. If this is considered acceptable material then we are tearing down all the boundaries of decency in the theatre."

Six Little Pigs in a Shallow Grave is the brainchild of controversial satirist Maurice Christopher, whose career has already attracted hundreds of complaints. During one radio broadcast he fooled many by announcing the death of David Hasslehoff.

Defence
The show has been defended by the council's outgoing chief executive Janet Jackson, who said: "It sought to challenge the inconsistencies in the way the media approaches and sensationalises crime. Some might argue that satire is the wrong format to engage in serious debate, but often it's only when a punchline has finished that we can see the uncomfortable but serious point behind the joke."

Attacks
Residents of Padstow, to a person, have been up in arms and protesting the shows this week. The entire population of the town surrounded the theatre on Monday morning to attack Christopher and, according to one protester, to "tear those fucking puppets from limb to limb!"

Whilst they demonstrated all of their houses were burgled.

What's all the fuss about? Six Little Pigs in a Shallow Grave is just one show in a season of controversial puppetry perpetrated by evil puppetmaster Maurice Christopher. Here is a synopsis of some of the shows played to Padstow audiences this summer. Pontius Piglet A puppet parody of the crucifixion involving various farmyard animals. This was first shown at the St Austell Civic Centre one Christmas as a support slot to Sooty's Christmas in the Abyss. Christ was played by a lamb. The then bearded Christopher (who was once sacked from the staff at Fingerbob) was later arrested for crimes against puppetry. No charges were pressed, however. Six Little Pigs in a Shallow Grave Based on the Moors Murders, Ian Brady was played by the Big Bad Wolf. Miss Piggy plays Myra Hindley. The audience has to shout out "He's behind you!!!" Oedipus Pig Christopher precipitated the break-up of popular children's TV puppet show, Pipkins, back in the late 70s by luring brummie puppet character, Pig, away from the team. He was promised the lead role in Oedipus Pig at the Edinburgh Fringe. The show bombed. Pig has not been heard of, or seen since. Hartley Hare is Managing Director at Glaxo Smithkline Beecham.