The BBC has some of its executives under guard in London after receiving threats for airing, "Jerry Springer -- The Opera," Sky News reported Sunday.

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The execs' families were subjected to "a large number of abusive and unpleasant calls" after their private telephone numbers were posted on a campaign group's Web site, the BBC said. The site was taken down following legal action by the network.

More than 45,000 complaints about the show were received, the most in the BBC's 78-year history. The threats call the show "blasphemous" for its 8,000 swear words and portrayal of Jesus Christ as "a bit gay."

BBC chief Mark Thompson said as a practicing Christian, he found nothing about the show to be blasphemous.