Family Guy star Patrick Warburton has revealed that he once refused to take part in an episode of the animated comedy.

The actor, who voices Joe Swanson in the show, explained that he was so offended by one of the jokes he wouldn't record for it.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, the 54-year-old said that he thinks the Seth MacFarlane series has crossed the line "a number of times".

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"There was an episode one time, this has only happened once in 20 years of being on the show – the episode was so offensive I can't repeat it now," he said. "It had to do with Christ on the cross but there was no humour in it and it was just so, so horribly offensive.

"It wasn't a Joe line but I said, 'Guys, I can't participate in this episode if that line is in it. It's a personal thing.' I know what I signed up for. I signed up for a really offensive show and it is satire and there are different rules that govern satire – there are, because of what they've gotten away with.

"I play along and I'm not going to get in the way but they go, 'This line will never make it past standards of practice' and I go, 'Well, why does it have to be there in the first place?' They know I am a team player but I guess we all wonder if we have a line. I said, 'If you ever do this on the show, it's diminished returns. It's not funny but so offensive to any Christian.'"

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Related: Family Guy is "trying to phase out" jokes about gay people

He added: "You can miss the mark there, but there are going to be swings and misses – there is with anything that's been around this long.

"It normally tends to be clever enough to stand up. There has also been really, really interesting high concept shows in regards to time travel and whatnot and different wormholes the writers take you down.

"In 20 years, there's only been this one episode. We have great communication all the time. They are all great and listen to you. They know I'm a team player. They know how offensive that was."

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The Series of Unfortunate Events star recently launched his rock band War Song, who have just released their debut song 'Goddess of the Rain'.

"It's something I started messing with in my late 40s and it's fun," he said. "I'm not going to quit my day job but now I have a little band and we get out locally and we have some gigs coming up, but I don't take it too seriously.

"I do it because it's fun, I'm 54 years old and I find it irritating how many actors take their bands so seriously. It does seem that every actor has a band, doesn't it?"

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Related: A Family Guy movie is in the works – and it'll combine animation AND live-action

Patrick is also hosting his annual Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament later this month that has so far raised almost $10 million for St Jude Children's Research Hospital.



War Song's 'Goddess of the Rain' is available on iTunes and Spotify.

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