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.

There was an episode where the shopkeeper shouted up to ask her to come and serve a customer and she replied, 'I can't! I've got no arms or legs!'. It was very throwaway.

@Gwenhwyfar

"The difference between a white middle-class man dressed as a white middle-class man to take the piss out of white middle-class men, and a white middle-class men dressed up as a Thai bride to take the piss out of people from Thailand."

It's acting isn't it? He doesn't have to act characters like himself all the time. It's become unacceptable these days to pretend to be a different colour and possibly disability, but all the other things are still allowed - acting another sex, age, background, etc. It's what most actors do.

I apologise, we crossed posted. Although you still didn’t answer my question. He’s not only acting - he’s dressing up as another race to take the piss. Can you honestly not see that as an issue?

Stephen Hawking did a Little Britain Red Nose day sketch.

Although maybe you’re another poster who doesn’t know that blackface is racist. Maybe do some reading up on it.

I never found it funny but like other I always thought the idea was to take this piss out of the “little Britain” mentality in the way many use “little Englander” as in the portrayed the lazy stereotypes that society used. That the joke was on the audience for their narrow mindedness.

Agree with lockeduporknockedup its offensive to every aspect of society and that is indeed the point it has an awful portrayal of much of society not just blacks and trans infact can't think of any part of society it doesnt offend including people with mental health issues and disabilities. But that's the point. A bit like 'Love they neighbour' from many years ago, also deemed rascist but the humour was in laughing at the stupidity and ignorance of the rascist neighbour not laughing with him at his rascist behaviour.

@Lisasyns11

Agree with lockeduporknockedup its offensive to every aspect of society and that is indeed the point it has an awful portrayal of much of society not just blacks and trans infact can't think of any part of society it doesnt offend including people with mental health issues and disabilities. But that's the point. A bit like 'Love they neighbour' from many years ago, also deemed rascist but the humour was in laughing at the stupidity and ignorance of the rascist neighbour not laughing with him at his rascist behaviour.

Oh god, how many more times? That’s not the point - the point is all those characters, all those stereotypes, were played by the same two white men. If it really was a satirical take down of racist attitudes they would have had a massively diverse cast. It’s not clever, it’s lazy and punching down.

I guess we're left with Michael McIntyre ridiculing members of the public and Mrs Brown's Boys then or hilarious smug panel shows. The last thing I laughed at was Motherland. It was full of stereotypes.

The joke was on the audience

This again. What does this actually mean? Is the audience supposed to laugh or laugh and then realise they were tricked into laughing by watching a programme presented as comedy, or find it distasteful and 'get' that they probably aren't the target audience?

@derxa

I guess we're left with Michael McIntyre ridiculing members of the public and Mrs Brown's Boys then or hilarious smug panel shows. The last thing I laughed at was Motherland. It was full of stereotypes.

Or Catastrophe? Or Black Mirror? Or Fleabag? Or Feel Good?

Who played the stereotypes in Motherland? I don’t remember anyone in blackface?

I don’t remember anyone in blackface? I don't agree with blackface.
Who played the stereotypes in Motherland? Diane Morgan played a 'feckless' single mother even though she was the smartest one of the group. Lucy Punch played the Queen Bee.

Or Catastrophe? Or Black Mirror? Or Fleabag? Or Feel Good?
We're back to smugness again. Phoebe Waller Bridge- no thanks.

Fleabag is excellent! I loved The Good Place. That's funny.

I didn’t rate it at all that toe curling stereotype comedy is not my bag. I do question the inability to use make humour PC. I that the point of humour can be told hold a mirror up at society, this held a mirror to all stereotypes in UK society.

It’s not black face per se, but I do question the notion that a white actor is only allowed to portray someone white. These industries need to improve equity and equality but I’m unconvinced stating folk cannot act past their skin colour

Never watched it. Saw some clips here and there. All characters were offensive.

@WornDownTired

Some people think it is offensive, some people don't. Banning things will only get peoples backs up now. When you silence people, you turn many of them against a cause. You think we would have learned that by now with Brexit, Transgender issues etc. We repeat this mistake time and time again.

Exactly right!

@derxa

Or Catastrophe? Or Black Mirror? Or Fleabag? Or Feel Good? We're back to smugness again. Phoebe Waller Bridge- no thanks.

Tv isn’t ruined because you can no longer watch David Walliams gurning in blackface.

@derxa

I don’t remember anyone in blackface? I don't agree with blackface. Who played the stereotypes in Motherland? Diane Morgan played a 'feckless' single mother even though she was the smartest one of the group. Lucy Punch played the Queen Bee.

Do you honestly see that as the same thing as blackface or Ting Tong? Really?

I’ll say again - the stereotypes aren’t the issue necessarily. The problem with LB is all of those stereotypes were played by the same two white men. Why was the cast not more diverse? It’s because it wouldn’t have been as funny if it had been the real butt of the joke on screen.

Do you honestly see that as the same thing as blackface or Ting Tong? Really? I didn't like any of the blackface or racial stereotype characters. There were some sketches I liked and some I didn't. I didn't like 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' Benny Hill Monty Python Love Thy Neighbour etc etc.
Tv isn’t ruined because you can no longer watch David Walliams gurning in blackface. I didn't like David Walliams gurning in blackface either.

So what do you mean by this?

I guess we're left with Michael McIntyre ridiculing members of the public and Mrs Brown's Boys then or hilarious smug panel shows. The last thing I laughed at was Motherland. It was full of stereotypes.

There’s an entire wealth of British comedy out there, and they don’t rely on racism for laughs.

I'm black and I'm sorry but it was hilarious! I'm not going to feel guilty for my taste in humour (it's twisted). Ting Tong did make me wince, though. Ooh, and the grown man latching on to his mother . It was all ridiculous, and that's why I liked it.

It actually got me through a period of depression. I could watch it, and forget about my troubles.

Am I going to Hell?

Am I going to Hell? Probably. I'll join you.

So many people on here who see Little Britain as a great loss but can’t articulate why.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3934990-So-now-Netflix-has-removed-The-Mighty-Boosh-and-League-of-Gentlemen
There you go. It goes on and on. ITV3 will be banning Carry On films next. How they're getting away with it I don't know.

How they're getting away with it I don't know. And I mean I don't know how ITV3 are able to show the Carry On films.