‘The Da Vinci Code - Cracking or Cracked?’, UK’s first public debate on the film based on Dan Brown’s novel, will be hosted by The Times’ religious affairs correspondent Ruth Gledhill at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE), Wednesday.

|TOP|Conservatives and conspiracy theorists will debate on what they believe is true or false regarding The Da Vinci Code. Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, authors of The Templar Revelation, will contend the fact that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute but the wife of Jesus, who was besotted by her.

The Templar Revelationcovers issues listed as ‘fact’ at the start of Dan Brown’s novel. It documents a ‘secret history preserved through the centuries but encoded in works of art that shed new light on the foundation of the Christian Church.’

Reverend Robin Griffith Jones, Master of The Temple Church, London, Fr Peter Malone, a Catholic film critic and David Couchman of Focus Radio will refute these claims. Focus has produced a special DVD in response to the book.

“The Da Vinci Code film is a great opportunity for Christians to get their colleagues and friends talking about the historical facts about Christ,” says Couchman. “Dan Brown himself said, ‘My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion and history.’ The debate at CRE is part of this process.”

|AD|“As far as we are aware, this is the first public debate in the UK on this provocative issue,” said Joy Gilmour, an organiser of the Christian Resources Exhibition. “We are responding to a survey sent to 4000 church leaders and members which told us that three out of four want their churches to discuss the issues raised by Brown’s blockbuster. They want it debated - not banned!”

“Our contributors reflect very different sides of the argument and we expect a heated exchange of opinions.”

The debate will start 11am, Wed 10 May, at the Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey.

Each year the CRE, Europe’s leading annual Christian exhibition, brings together some 340 suppliers, charities and missions under one roof. More than 11000 people attended last year’s show.

This year, the dates are set for Tue 9 – Fri 12 May. Contributors will include Lord Trimble, former first minister of Northern Ireland and former MP Jonathan Aitken.