Jerry Springer The Opera is the brain-child of Richard Thomas, who first performed sections of it in early 2001.
Stewart Lee came on board that spring to add words and direct. It was worked up at Battersea Arts Centre & the Edinburgh Festival over subsequent years until finding a home in it's finished form at the National Theatre on London's South Bank. It played there between April & September 2003 before moving to the west end and the Cambridge Theatre in November 2003.

Along the way, it picked up 4 Laurence Olivier Awards, along with a respectable collection of Critics Choice awards and various other accolades.

Mass controversy ensued when the opera was broadcast on January 8, 2005 as part of an evening of Jerry Springer-themed programming on BBC TWO.
Christian Voice & other right wing campaigners whipped up a storm that would ultimately send several BBC staff into hiding and derail the intended UK tour of the musical.