The BBC is right to save a space for God

SIR – John Humphrys, the presenter of the Today programme on Radio 4, considers its Thought for the Day slot to be irrelevant and “deeply, deeply boring” (report, October 31).

Personally, I find the couple of minutes spent listening to Thought for the Day a welcome and uplifting interruption from the incessant stream of cackling and sarcasm that the rest of the show provides. John C Pearson

Blackburn, Lancashire

SIR – John Humphrys is tired of hearing that “Jesus was really nice”. Perhaps the real cause of his irritation is that Jesus asked much tougher questions than he does. Robin Hawke

Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

SIR – Rather than simply being “nice”, Jesus was an outspoken rebel who upset the religious leaders of his day so much that they perjured themselves in order to have him condemned to a criminal’s death. Elizabeth Lewis

Grange-over-sands, Cumbria

SIR – John Humphrys and his colleague, Justin Webb, may be tired of hearing that “Jesus was really nice”, but not as tired as I am of being told by the BBC that they are “impartial”.

The former I can believe, but not the latter. GP Brown

Norwich

SIR – Although I am no longer a believer, I do miss the late Rabbi Lionel Blue’s regular contributions to Thought for the Day. They were thoughtful, funny and meaningfully reflective on contemporary issues.

It is such a shame that the other major religions struggle to put up their best philosophical thinkers. Brian Hutchinson

London SW4

SIR – In my role as an agent for screenplay and television writers, I recently submitted a screenplay to a religious affairs drama editor at the BBC, written by a celebrated former BBC journalist and screenwriter whom I represent.

The screenplay was an account of the Crucifixion from the viewpoint of Pontius Pilate, intended to be broadcast during Easter. The reason given for turning it down was: “This screenplay is too religious.” Guy Rose

London SW14