Stewart Lee is sick of Jerry Springer the Opera. The comedian, who wrote and directed the controversial show, never had grand ambitions for it, but over the past year he's been fending off abuse from Christians offended at its religious references.

The experience has left him jaded but strangely uplifted.

"In a way, having 60,000 people have a go at me and losing out financially on a national tour has been liberating because nothing can ever be worse, " says Stewart, 38. "It's cured me of ambition! I just want to do my own thing now - stand-up, writing, directing, radio and TV. Whatever I do, it'll never be the circus that Springer has become. People in Christian Voice don't read my novels, they don't go to my gigs. My material is for intelligent, liberal-minded people who aren't afraid to be challenged!"

It all began with low-key comedy act How To Write An Opera About Jerry Springer which Stewart developed with Richard Thomas, who wrote the show's music. "Richard was watching Jerry Springer and realised it was a load of fat people screaming at each other, just like opera! Operatic themes of sex, love, violence and tragedy were all there, " says Stewart.

"The best we hoped for was an Edinburgh run. We went along to tryout nights at Battersea Arts Centre and got the audience chipping in with suggestions. I'd never even seen a musical let alone written one, it just kept evolving."

To the pair's surprise, it took off, transferring to the West End where critics and audiences hailed it as the funniest, most original show to hit London in years. Awards came thick and fast - including an Olivier Award for Best Musical which Stewart keeps kitchen utensils in - then came the televised version last year. "Between 2001 and 2005 there wasn't a whisper of controversy but as soon as it went on TV it became a political football for the Christian right, " says Stewart.

Thousands of protesters jammed the switchboards when the show went out on BBC2 - 47,000 calls coming before it was broadcast - and there were death threats to BBC staff. Hot on the heels of all that came the national tour. Canvassing from prayer group Christian Voice led to a third of the 30 venues pulling out, then the Arts Council withdrew funding and the tour looked doomed. But last autumn it was saved when 20 theatres, including the Alhambra, pooled marketing costs to help producers Avalon reduce costs and keep the show running.

Protesters have targeted it nationwide. In Bradford a 2,200-name petition was handed to Bradford Council by Prayer for Bradford calling upon it to ban the show from the Alhambra where it's due later this month. The matter was referred to the Executive Committee - which meets in June.

"These people haven't even seen the show, it's a knee-jerk reaction, " says Stewart. "Nobody I respect who's seen it has objected. Bigots have objected, but who cares about them?

"It's not good enough to say you've 'seen a bit of it' or you've read the lyrics. Because Richard's score is operatic it changes the meaning of words, you only appreciate that when you see the show. We have a great cast and their performances put everything in context. I was handed a leaflet protesting about a line calling God 'the fascist tyrant on high'. It appears in the show on a note written by Satan and comes from Milton's Paradise Lost. You have to see it to understand that.

"This is a piece of art that got into the mainstream. Good art asks questions but fundamentalists only accept certainties. And people aren't used to being challenged within a musical - the most pointless, anodyne art form there is. What questions do you normally ask during a musical, other than 'Isn't that flying car great?'" Apart from the swearing, the controversy in Jerry Springer the Opera is when Jerry gets shot and goes to hell where he's confronted by guests whose lives were ruined by his show, appearing in the form of Christian figures.

"We're always thrown the line, 'You wouldn't write something about Islam.' Well, I'm not Muslim and don't have enough understanding of Islamic iconography, surely that should come from a Muslim not a white middle-class comedian, " says Stewart. "I'd love to develop a piece of work in a place like Bradford which reflects the cultural balance, but I'd need to work with someone from a Muslim background.

"In the West we have a tradition of Christian iconography from the middle ages, from morality plays to musicals. Part of how we see the world is through the lens of Christian mythology. Islamic iconography is more protected, it's an area not commonly known about. Christian symbols are up for grabs; you can buy Virgin Mary snow-globes in Vatican Square so it's a bit late to get protective."

Ironically, considering the Christian opposition, the show raises questions of love, tolerance and forgiveness and leaves the audience deciding for itself whether Jerry Springer is morally responsible for his guests.

"We're used to having morals shoved at us, when Jerry Springer the Opera was on telly it was the first time in ages two million people watched something that made them think, " says Stewart. "That's what a piece of theatre should do."

Although he gets fired up about it, he's weary of all the hoo-hah and is looking forward to moving on.

"I'm directing a play called Talk Radio in Edinburgh, it's about people ringing radio stations talking s*** - something I know about since I've been on plenty of radio shows responding to such calls!" he laughs.

Jerry Springer the Opera runs at the Alhambra from May 22-27. Ring (01274) 432000. Not suitable for children under 16.