More popular than Jesus in all of us." Adamant that he was not comparing himself with Christ, he tried to explain the decline of Christianity in the UK. Pressed for an apology by a reporter, he said: "if you want me to apologise, if that will make you happy, then OK, I'm sorry." Journalists gave a sympathetic response, and told Lennon that the Bible Belt were "quite notorious for their Christian attitude". When the tour began, it was marred by protests and disturbances. Telephone threats were received, and concerts were picketed by the Ku Klux Klan. "Daily Express" writer Robert Pitman, responding to the
Evening Standard simply ... stunned the market. Not just for the act of going free, but because editorial quality has been maintained, circulation has almost trebled and advertisers have responded favourably. Here is a media brand restored to health." The "Standard" also won the daily newspaper of the year award at the London Press Club Press Awards in May 2011. The Evening Standard launched a mobile app with US app developer Handmark in May 2010. The range of apps was updated in 2015. In March 2018, editor George Osborne initiated a redesign of the paper, which featured a dropping of the 'London'