BBC Raw presenter provokes controversy after claiming Jesus Christ had two dads

A BBC presenter is in hot water after claiming Jesus had two dads while discussing same –sex marriage.

Ciaran Varley received criticism for accusing Christians of hypocrisy during his web show on BBC Raw, an online platform launched by the broadcaster earlier in 2015.

"Jesus himself had two dads [and] turned out alright", he said. The 28-year-old host is the son of the BBC's social mobility executive, Cheryl Varley, who also runs BBC Raw.

"This is the type of content the BBC should have nothing to do with, let alone commission," Tory MP Damian Collins, of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, told the Mail Online.

"I can't understand how this was allowed to happen. It brings the BBC into disrepute ... the BBC needs to explain why money from [its] budget has been used to benefit [family of staff]."

Some license fee payers have since suggested that the online channel, which called David Cameron a 'f***ing idiot' and even insulted the Queen, may be in breach of BBC rules on impartiality and bad language.

"If [people] want to produce this sort of trash they should do it on their own money and have it aired on a platform not funded by licence fee payers," Andrew Percy said.

Another critic said: "Glad to see the left wing television tax is being put to good use."

A spokesperson for the show, which was designed to talent and engage younger viewers in current affairs, insisted that all measures were taken to ensure that the show "adheres to the BBC's rigorous editorial standards"

"We are urgently working with the people involved in running the scheme to ensure [BBC Raw] fully adheres to the BBC's rigorous editorial standards," the BBC representative said in a statement.

"This is a pilot scheme where young people from a range of backgrounds can post their short, personal – and sometimes provocative – films about issues they care about on YouTube."