Angelos Epithemiou

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I saw an advert for a new show to be headed by the comedian Renton Skinner's character Angelos Epithemiou. I have come across him before, both doing stand-up and on Shooting Stars. His whole skit is based around the character having SN.

In light of the reaction to Ricky Gervais' latest character and the blasting of other comedians who take the piss out of people with SN, AIBU to think that the fact this comedian is being championed and that he has now been given his own show with this character is a staggering example of double standards?

Apologies if this has been covered before!

Is he taking the piss out of SN, or is he portraying a person with SN (who shouldn't be ruled out of being included in all aspects of media representation and culture for fear of offence).

I've never heard of him. But there is a good counter argument.

I thought he was just socially inept rather than having special needs.
I have only ever seen him with on Sunday Brunch though.

Reading up on it, it says the character is an ex-burger van owner, not played as any sort of vulnerable adult.
I don't see the problem with representing ALL kinds of people in comedy.

I wouldn't have said he is a character with SN, any more than Joey Essex has SN. I think he's very funny in Shooting Stars but having seen this series when it first came out a few moths ago, I don't think his act stands up to a half hour show.

I definitely agree with you and I'm not a person who gets wildly offended at the slightest thing but the character is the archetypal stereotype of the social misfit (dirty coat, thick NHS glasses, carries everything around in a plastic carrier bag, jutting lower jaw) and it is clear from the way he speaks and behaves that he is intended to be a grotesque charicature of someone with SN, with absolutely no sense of empathy or understanding or any indication that he is intended to be some satirical figure.

(sorry I meant the character is portrayed without any sense of empathy, not that the character is intended to be without empathy)

Sorry but that is utter bullshit. I'd love to know where you came up with the special needs thing, because nobody connected to Renton has ever said it. Angelos is supposed to be socially inept, but shockingly not every person lacking in social skills and high intelligence is SN.

You must have an awful lot of time on your hands to be able to make things up to offend you!

FFS. Is being socially awkward considered a SN nowadays?

Squidgy my point was a question as to whether it is hypocritical for the media to blast Ricky Gervais for his latest character but to champion this one.

Oh and squidgy I'm not making up things to be offended about. I didn't even say I was offended! you may have a point about me being bored today though

I have seen him live and on Shooting Stars. I had read an article describing him as being someone with SN. If that was wrong, fair enough.

I am happy to discard my judgey pants. But my question about RG still stands because he has actually come out and said his character doesn't have SN.

I'd love to know what the article was.

You've said you assumed he is supposed to be SN because he wears NHS thick rimmed specs, carries his stuff in a carrier bag and has a jutting jaw. All assumptions you've made based on your own perceptions I can only assume.

I've been a fan of Renton Skinner for quite a while, I've seen Angelos live and have watched him on SS for several years, as have a lot of my friends. None of them have ever made the same judgement as you.

Aside from that, Gervais was wrongly vilified and played Derek extremely well.

Isn't it rather insulting to say that the stereotype is obvious, since it then means that you are the one saying all people who do this this and this are definitely X and cannot be otherwise?

It doesn't seem to me like this character is purported by its creator to have sn's.

I watched him on Sunday Brunch last week and I didn't find it offensive and I have family members with learning difficulties. I just thought he was porting someone socially inept, not SN.

The character isn't meant to have sn. Why do you think that?
He's just meant to be eccentric and weird.

Well, I only have a vague idea of who you mean, but your description made me immediately think of Roy Cropper of Corrie fame! And I've never thought of him as being a character with SN!

your OP says far more about your expectation of someone wearing/sporting the same items as Angelos tbh

misfit = SN?

turn that around, just lovely

Angelos is supposed to be socially inept, but shockingly not every person lacking in social skills and high intelligence is SN

I agree

The character is a funny, lovable misfit.

No mention of SN at all.

I'm afraid I agree with everyone else, I hadn't even considered the character as having special needs.. he can be quite funny. I liked his spoof tv review in the guardian.
www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/jun/23/tv-od-angelos-epithemiou?INTCMP=SRCH

His character is likeable OP you should watch him on Shooting stars, just eccentric with astute observations.

Apologies OP you have already seen him, I can sort of see what you are saying but not really sure I agree with you.

Errrr, he doesn't have SN he is just socially inept.

He (the character) is actually intelligent and observant, he just has no social skills and he is a bit of a misfit. That is all.

Sorry to break the wheels off your bandwagon and that.

Also, I think I'm more annoyed that you think that people with SN walk around with an overbite/crappy NHS specs tbh.