On Monday I wrote about the sitcom Last Of The Summer Wine, and the phrase ‘old men in a bath’ was used in one of the (very few) comments. I found this clip today of a BBC promo starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. I say found, I meant looked for, as I was sure it was them who spoofed LOTSW. The tag line “You make it what it is” was one of a few promos used to try to justify the TV Licence.
What is interesting in hindsight is the claim “The BBC believes that great comedy comes from taking risks, so it allows writers and performers the freedom to take them.”
Not a claim they will ever make again. The BBC has gone the opposite way and is now too scared to offend anyone. Even comedians doing the warm up in front of an audience have to be careful what they say. What’s even more ridiculous is that when filming a half hour comedy quiz, the filming runs for about two hours, to be edited down to 29 minutes (BBC) or 24 minutes (ITV) of transmission material. Although the performers know that anything off colour will be cut, they still have to watch what they say, because someone from The Daily Mail might be lurking.
This is an after effect of the Sachs-A-Phone (as it should have been called) scandal perpetrated by Jonathon Ross and Russell Brand. After serving a suspension from the BBC, Tonight With Jonathon Ross suffered. It was already filmed in advance, but now even the slightest potentially offensive thing will be taken out and as a result, you can see Ross’s discomfort. They kicked him even more when they insisted on his radio show being pre-recorded.
The BBC is not the one to blame though. It is the fault of sanctimonious folk who do not even have to watch an offensive programme to be offended. The Brand/Ross thing was reported in The Mail On Sunday, two weeks after it happened. At that point, the iplayer went mad with people listening to it so they could complain.
The BBC, and in particular the comedy department should tell viewers that other options are available. Not watching is a good one, or acknowledging the 9pm watershed. I would be a bit taken aback if I heard ‘strong language’ on teatime telly, not offended but taken aback. However, after the watershed I have no right to get upset about something I have been warned about.
The Beeb were right, comedy is about taking risks. The trouble is, they will not take them anymore.
