To be shocked that this was ever ok?! Blackface on Little Britain...

[BrexitBingoGenerator]

Hello. I've just been looking at the Daily Mail (sorry) and there is a thing about this. I was genuinely gobsmacked seeing the photo and it's completely offensive. However, at some time in the not-so-distant past, this was seen as mainstream comedy and I remember it being on primetime telly. So a critical mass of people must have thought this was ok? I never really watched little Britain and this sketch in particular made me want to heave, but I think at the time it was rather for its horrible portrayal of women generally. I don't remember outrage over it at the time. But maybe there was? I guess I'm just ashamed that comedy like this could have been screened in my adult lifetime.

@SuckingDieselFella

Fortunately my adolescent days are well behind me but, frankly, your post didn't deserve any more effort than that.
(Almost) sorry for any dented ego.

It's offensive Open, because being black isn't fancy dress.

It's now been pulled by the BBC and Netflix.

I am old enough to remember watching some shows that you wouldn't believe were ever shown on TV - The Black and White Minstrel Show, Love Thy Neighbour, Till Death Us Do Part.

Actually, I didn't watch the last one, but it was famous for all the wrong reasons. Mary Whitehouse was having kittens about it.

Oh Yeh the vomiting WI woman..

That was funny!

[quote Nousernamehistory]@SuckingDieselFella

Fortunately my adolescent days are well behind me but, frankly, your post didn't deserve any more effort than that.
(Almost) sorry for any dented ego.[/quote]
You're right, no effort at all has gone into your opinions.

Go on, explain to us how white people are immune from racism.

@Notredamn no of course it’s not I meant if you were dressing up as a famous person so if I were doing Barry Manillo I would use a fake nose. For clarity I hate dressing up anyway but was interested to see if black people find this offensive or the fact that white people are worried it’s offensive

@BeijingBikini exactly i read that and thought there's no point in responding, I haven't seen it in a while but I still would find it funny I'm sure

Loved little Britain and come fly with me if one of my favourite ever comedies. Peak of British comedy in my opinion. If you don’t like it... don’t watch it?

Come Fly With Me has been pulled as well.

@Opendraw it's appropriation you're describing. Yes, it's offensive. It's wrong. Look up cultural appropriation. Don't wait for other people to give their opinions here, google it. Look it up.

Except if you watched the programme you would know Anne isn,t incontinent or mentally disturbed and is perfectly able to have a conversation. (which is why she has phone calls oin a male voice when the doctor turns his back

I wonder if it's challenging out perception of disability. Many people except little from people with disabilities, when in actual fact some are capable of a number of things.

I’m mixed heritage and I do not look white. I assume I’m allowed an opinion? I can see why it’s been deemed racist (and ableist and sexist). I don’t judge people who laughed back then but I judge those who won’t listen to all voices and assume there’s zero elements of systemic discrimination.

I loved both shows

Glad I've got the box sets

Anne: Concidered by society to have a disability but is totally capable, Showing us that disabled people are just as useful in society as able bodied people.

Marjorie: Overweight herself but finds it ok to mock others for being overweight, Missing the irony along the way.

Daffyd: Is so caught up in being gay he misses out on other gay men, if he could just accept himself as he is instead of worrying about it he would have found a lot of tolerant people arond him, including his family.

Maggie And Judy: Showing how ridiculous racism is, They are showing us its wrong to feel that way due to the colour of a persons skin.

Linda: Is a horrible bitch to everyone but in the end gets a taste of her own medicine, it hurts her so much she cries.

Everyone is different but that is how I always viewed it, they are mocking racist people and showing us how wrong and absurd it is, they are mocking how people in the UK are sometimes viewed by society.

I haven’t watched it recently, but comedy is often offensive as it usually mocks something

Well the utterly brilliant Dave Allen seemed to manage very well. While other comedians in the 70s and 80s were relying on sexist old tropes like MIL jokes , he was questioning the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church.

This is just a saga now...

Dave Allen on apartheid sketch.

Did anyone get offended at the incontinent old lady? I think the ageism was awful.

I did like hearing Tom Baker though.

Oh Dave Allen...what a legend. My parents loved him. That thing with the missing finger and the glass he was always supping at...
I recall vividly when he said he was going to change his 'goodbye' from 'may God go with you' to 'may YOUR God go with you'....I was taken by that....it was the 70s after all...

Little Britain was a sneery, disgusting, reductive, divisive and thoroughly nasty piece of work. Played very much to baser instincts whilst pretending to be ironic and arch and above all that. It was vomit inducing, reactionary, parochial rubbish.

It took aim at women, gay people, old people, disabled people, people of colour, trans people, working class people, impoverished people, just kind people. I fucking hated it.

I thought the whole premise of the show was to make fun of Britian’s various racists ridiculous beliefs? That’s why it’s called “Little Britain” as a play on “Great Britain” meaning, if racists were right, this is what Britain would be like.

The offensive characters aren’t comedy to make fun of actual groups, but making fun of what racists think about those groups.

So, it’s fine it is pulled, but I think that many people have misunderstood the intent behind it?

They’d be as well have called it “Punching Down”. I know they tried to come off as if they were really skewering and satirising prejudiced attitudes, but they played into them and pandered to them far too much for that. Trying to have it both ways and failing. Cruel and ugly take on human nature.

I thought it was a funny show. If a couple of black comedians made a similar show and painted their faces white and caractured say, a stereotypical skinny blonde SW London mum in a 4X4, chances are I'd be equally amused.

Yrh I get what you mean plan but it wasn't really clever enough to br taken ironically. Sorru but there was nothing ironic about vicky pollard or the old woman who so.hilariously pisses herself.

It was like 'faux irony' in fact.