But, as unlikely historical image makeovers go, the recent rehabilitation of the once reviled Yorkist king could pale into insignificance beside that of a villain of truly biblical proportions: Judas Iscariot.Prominent clerics, including a Church of England bishop, have lent their voices to calls for a reappraisal of the disciple who betrayed Jesus, leading to his crucifixion.Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds, remarked that he feels "a bit sorry" for Judas.He said that the lost apostle, viewed by many Christians as beyond redemption, has had a "lousy press" for the last 2000 years. Although Judas has long been reviled as "the ultimate traitor", the truth behind Judas's decision to hand Jesus over to the religious authorities might, he said, have been more complicated. His comments were made in an article in this week's Radio Times ahead of a new BBC documentary by Church of England vicarKate Bottley.In the programme, In The Footsteps of Judas, she examines theories about what led him to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver - and later hang himself.One theory is that Judas was a dedicated revolutionary who saw Jesus as a reluctant political Messiah and hoped that, by handing him over for arrest, he could trigger an uprising against Roman rule in Judea. Judas would then be not purely a traitor but a tragic figure and a "mirror to the human condition", according to Bottley."This is not to say 'Oh Judas, he's all right really', what we are saying is that perhaps there is something else to him than that kiss and that betrayal," she said."Up until that moment of betrayal, Judas seems no better or worse than the other disciples."But he has been defined by the worst thing he did."Jesus forgave people as they were putting the nails in to his hands," Bishop Baines wrote, "and there is no reason why he would not have forgiven Judas, but [Judas] didn't hear that. He has gone down in history as the ultimate traitor, the cheap and nasty greed-merchant who sells his friend and his soul for a few quid."Judas had invested himself in the revolutionary leadership of Jesus of Nazareth . only to find himself let down."Trying to force the hand of the Messiah didn't work and, instead of provoking the ultimate uprising against Roman rule, the glorious leader simply let himself get nailed without resistance."I guess it's up to the observer to decide what was really going on with Judas - whether he is a traitor or a scapegoat."Whatever conclusion you draw, he's had a lousy press. Just call someone by his name." ..