The creator of Shannon Matthews The Musical has spoken out in defence of his controversial show.
The musical is based upon the kidnap of the schoolgirl, who was reported missing by her mother, Karen in 2008.
In news which shocked the nation, Shannon, then aged nine, was found alive after weeks of searching - hidden in the base of a divan bed. Her mother orchestrated the whole thing with Shannon's stepdad's uncle, Michael Donovan.
Now Essex band K**t and the Gang are putting on a show depicting the tragedy with songs including Can't work, won't work and Meet the Matthews.
However MPs Mark Eastwood and Mussarat Pervaiz have condemned the decision with Pervaiz describing the move as "disgusting".
But the band disagrees.
Speaking in defence of the musical, K**t's frontman said: "I am firmly of the belief that when you joke about things you break down taboos and it opens up the forum for discussion.
"I had never written a musical before and haven't since. The more I saw and read about the case the more extraordinary it seemed, and I just kept getting ideas come to me," he told Yorkshire Live.
The musical will be shown at the Lending Room, Leeds, and the Edinburgh Fringe and the band say they'll take any criticism with a "pinch of salt".
Asked whether he enjoys provoking a reaction, the frontman replied: "Not especially. But it's better to have some people love something and some people hate it than have everyone thinking it's humdrum."
When Shannon was finally found in 2008, Michael Donovan was arrested at the scene and charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment.
Her mum Karen was charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice on 8 April 2008.
The joint trial of Donovan and Karen Matthews at Leeds Crown Court commenced on 11 November 2008 and concluded on 4 December with both defendants found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice.
They were both given eight-year prison sentences.
Karen was released from prison April 2012 after serving half her sentence., while Donovan had already been released.
Shannon's tragic tale was depicted in BBC's Moorside in 2017, which starred Sherdian Smith as Karen's friend Julie Bushby, - who organised the search for the schoolgirl.
