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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think Little Britain wouldn't be allowed today

257 replies

Tobythecat · 17/09/2019 20:02

Just came across some old Little Britain clips on Youtube. I'm really shocked! The amount of racism, disablist and sexist stuff. It was only back in 2007 I think that the filming ended so it wasn't that long ago at all! There is no way this would be allowed on tv now, surely?!

OP posts:
ragged · 17/09/2019 20:26

I loved Blazing Saddles as a kid but it couldn't be a hit now.

TrueFriendsStabYouInTheFront · 17/09/2019 20:27

It was funny, I'm not a 'type' I'm just not a fucking flannel and can enjoy comedy without getting offended at every damn thing Grin
OP you're right, it would never be allowed on tv now cause the world has gone mad!

Rachelover60 · 17/09/2019 20:28

I liked the laydee who did projectile vomiting in Little Britain.

The Brittas Empire was marvellous!

managedmis · 17/09/2019 20:29

Spitting Image was hilarious

31RueCambon75001 · 17/09/2019 20:30

My kids are teens now but they loved David Walliams books. He's better at that imo.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 17/09/2019 20:30

Little Britain definitely hit and miss. I never liked (or really understood) the "bitty" sketch, or Dennis Waterman and his agent. But I thought the "laydees", Ting Tong and Fatfighters were hilarious Grin

Toddlerteaplease · 17/09/2019 20:31

Loved Brittas Empire. I was watching an old episode of Birds of a Feather and wondered how I ever found it funny.

Loved Goodness Gracious me. But we'd never get away with it now.

adaline · 17/09/2019 20:35

To be fair, Little Britain was pretty divisive at the time. Lots of people criticised it.

I never found it funny and still don't. Don't get the humour in it at all, but there we go. Each to their own.

siratcha · 17/09/2019 20:36

I thought this about the Mighty Boosh when I rewatched it recently. Ablist slurs, black face, cod accents

Oysterbabe · 17/09/2019 20:36

Brittas Empire was brilliant.
I'm not the biggest fan of any of the sketch shows. It's just the same jokes every week and they get old fast.

mytinyfiredancers · 17/09/2019 20:37

I thought the whole point of Little Britain was to ridicule the ridiculers? To point out the stereotypes and mock those those subscribed to them?

Anyway. I never thought it was particularly funny except for Fatfighters. The 'Dust' sketch was genius and I remember belly laughing at that.

Comedy does date more than other tv shows I've found. I loved Bottom when it was on TV, that wouldn't fly now. Rik Mayall was repulsively hilarious.

Templetonstunafish · 17/09/2019 20:37

God little Britain was awful. A lot of it probably was offensive, but also it just wasn't funny? I never got it anyway.

Drabarni · 17/09/2019 20:38

It was funny, lots of good sketches. My favourite was Kelsey Grammar school.

HeadLikeAFuckinOrange · 17/09/2019 20:41

I loved Bottom when it was on TV, that wouldn't fly now. Rik Mayall was repulsively hilarious.

I don't know, Bottom was more puerile than controversial, wasn't it? The only thing I think people could complain about now would be describing women as "birds", and always trying to get a shag! I don't remember any homophobia, racism or disablist humour in Bottom at all, and watched it to death!

titnomatani · 17/09/2019 20:42

Wasn't the purpose of these kind of shows to highlight what racist/sexist/disabled-hating wankers looked like when in action?

HugoSpritz · 17/09/2019 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mytinyfiredancers · 17/09/2019 20:44

@HeadLikeAFuckinOrange I agree it wasn't offensive (to me) but the professionally offended would probably point out that the characters were gross, misogynistic pigs who objectified women.

Still very funny though.

kitk · 17/09/2019 20:46

@Purplequalitystreet @titnomatani I agree. They were poking fun out of the people who were sexist/ homophobic/racist etc. Those people were always the fools of the sketches. Appreciate it hasn't aged well and consider it was a bit risqué in its time, but I wouldn't say it was dreadful, Just society has moved on. I'm a mega Friends fan and some of those lines make me cringe nowadays, but dsnt mean majority not funny

Doyoumind · 17/09/2019 20:47

I think it shows what Matt Lucas and David Walliams really think about men dressed as women, even if they have now been re-educated.

I don't know how Mrs Brown's Boys is currently on prime time TV. It's awful.

WineIsMyCarb · 17/09/2019 20:47

This was funny because of how absurd it was. Now it's considered beyond parody. The Matt Lucas cop character would be commiting a hate crime by raising his eyebrow there.

Also note the term sex and gender are used separately.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=vvH1LLZeef4

Chosennone · 17/09/2019 20:48

Vicky Pollard 😂 well observed IMO.

derxa · 17/09/2019 20:48

I loved LB. All of it.

CBCB7992 · 17/09/2019 20:48

I was saying the exact same thing the other day. It’s probably similar with a lot of old comedies though!

CoinOperatedBoy · 17/09/2019 20:49

Oh my god this was "the thing" when I was at school. Everyone going around "yeah but no but".... uh I couldn't stand it. Vicky Pollard was the worst... just the way no one ever told her to STFU.

WineIsMyCarb · 17/09/2019 20:49

And sorry for posting something so bloody miserable and depressing!

Long live comedy - laugh at what you like!

My DH found a video of a man with a song about when they changed Jif to Cif and has been singing it all day. Silly bugger. Funny though!

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