A well-known TV comedian’s tour advert has been banned by the advertising watchdog after he was accused of mocking the Christian faith.

Fern Brady, who appeared on Channel 4’s Taskmaster and The Great Celebrity Bake Off, was depicted squirting milk from the breast of a man dressed in religious attire into his mouth.

Although Brady claimed the image was based on a 17th-century religious painting, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled it could cause ‘serious distress’ to some Christians.

It added that the ad should not appear again ‘in the manner complained of’ in traditional media where it was likely to cause serious distress.

The ASA also warned Brady to ‘be careful not to offend on religious grounds in future advertising’.

The still image was being used online to promote the Scottish comedian’s “I Gave You Milk to Drink” tour. The title was placed above the stained glass window in the picture.

A complainant contacted the ASA to question whether the ad was ‘offensive’ because it ‘mocked the Christian faith’.

Brady, 38, told the ASA that the image was from Spanish painter Alonso Cano’s painting of St. George, also known as St. Bernard and the Virgin Mary. He explained that it was a ‘direct recreation’ of Bernard Breastfeeding.

In the famous painting, the Virgin Mary pours milk from her breast to St. Clairvaux. Bernard is depicted spraying it into his mouth.

Fern Brady argued the ad image was based on a 17th-century religious painting, but the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled it could cause ‘serious distress’ to some Christians

TV comedian Fern Brady has previously appeared on Channel 4’s Taskmaster and The Great Celebrity Bake Off.

Brady reportedly criticized the complaint being made against the tour poster, saying there was ‘nothing wrong with it’

Brady said the ad “creatively” references the original image using “satire and humour”. But he added that this was not intended to “mock” or “belittle” the “original religious significance”.

It was added that, unlike the original painting, efforts were made to ‘prevent any unintentional attack’, particularly by covering Brady’s chest with ‘a beam of light’.

The ruling describes Brady’s response to the case as follows: ‘The intention was not to ridicule or belittle the original religious significance, but to offer a contemporary interpretation consistent with his public persona as a comedian known for his irreverent style and religious upbringing. ‘

His response was that some found the image ‘distasteful’, but that did not mean it could lead to a ‘serious or widespread attack’.

The ASA said the paid ad was seen on the Sky News website in August.

The ruling said: ‘The image featured a woman with the face of Fern Brady, holding a baby in her hands and spraying milk from her partially covered breast directly into the mouth of a kneeling divine figure.’

Explaining why the complaint was upheld, the ASA added: ‘Regardless of whether consumers were familiar with the painting or the content of Fern Brady’s work, we considered that the advert published on a general news website was likely to be viewed as a painting. The Virgin Mary, a highly revered person in the Christian tradition, breastfeeds an adult holy figure in a church setting for humorous purposes.

‘In this context, we considered that the advert could possibly be seen as mocking the religious figures featured.

‘We have therefore concluded that it may seriously offend some members of the Christian faith who see the advert on the site.’

Brady reportedly criticized the filing of complaints about the ad.

According to a report in The Times, last month he posted a video on social media in which he said ‘a virgin complained to the ASA about my beautiful tour poster’.

He added: ‘There is no problem at all, why are you complaining?’