Rowan Atkinson's controversial Comic Relief sketch, which prompted more than 2,200 complaints to the BBC, is to be investigated by media regulator Ofcom.

Atkinson appeared in the sketch as a fictional version of the Archbishop of Canterbury, comparing boy band One Direction to Jesus's disciples and saying praying "doesn't work".

Broadcast before the 9pm watershed as part of BBC1's Comic Relief marathon which raised £75m, Atkinson's comic creation told viewers that Jesus said love your neighbours but "it doesn't mean shag your neighbours".

The BBC later apologised for the sketch and removed it from its iPlayer.

It said it was "intended to amuse and entertain" but said it was "clear from feedback that [it] was problematic for a number of different reasons".

Now the corporation faces a further investigation by Ofcom over the broadcast on 15 March this year.

The regulator is understood to be investigating the programme on grounds of offensive language and generally accepted standards.

The BBC said Comic Relief has become "known for pushing at the boundaries of comedy alongside heartfelt appeal films" but said it would consider the issues raised by the complaints for similar events in the future.

The BBC received about 3,000 complaints in total over Comic Relief, including another sketch involving its Sunday night drama hit, Call the Midwife.

About a quarter of the complaints about the Atkinson sketch were understood to be about religious offence, with the rest relating to pre-watershed language.

This year's Comic Relief marked its 25th anniversary and was watched by a peak audience of more than 12 million viewers.

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