THE BBC Scotland documentary #CancelKarenDunbar explores changing attitudes to humour, language and offence. Here we look back at some well-known TV series that, by today’s standards, could be considered outdated and unacceptable viewing.
The Benny Hill Show
The slapstick gags, double entendres and saucy seaside postcard humour that were no doubt seen as playful in the early years of the long-running BBC and ITV series may not sit well with some contemporary audiences. Originally shown between 1955 and 1989, episodes are currently being repeated on Freeview channel That’s TV.
Till Death Us Do Part
Is there a more abhorrent TV character than working-class bigot Alf Garnett? Comedy writer Johnny Speight’s most famous creation was a loud-mouthed, bad-tempered and unapologetic racist with right-wing views.
READ MORE: Karen Dunbar: 'I'm terrified of being cancelled over old comedy gags'
Yet, Garnett – played by Warren Mitchell – proved a huge hit with many viewers. During the BBC show’s run, from 1965 to 1975, it drew audiences of 20 million.
It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum
The BBC sitcom, which aired between 1974 and 1981, centred on frontline entertainers based in India towards the end of the Second World War. The series, created by Dad’s Army writers David Croft and Jimmy Perry, has been widely criticised for portraying blackface, racism, homophobia and imperialism. Repeats are no longer shown on UK television.
Married … With Children
Protagonist Al Bundy, played by Ed O’Neill in the late 1980s and early 1990s US sitcom, had a brand of vulgar, crude and sexist humour that rankles for many when watched back today.
READ MORE: Karen Dunbar on why the censors banned 'racist' Chewin’ The Fat sketch
Married … With Children has also been criticised for its objectification of women with Katey Sagal, who played Al’s wife Peggy Bundy, describing it as a “very misogynistic show.”
The Dukes of Hazzard
While the punchy theme tune for the 1980s action-comedy series presented the adventurous characters from the American South as “just two good ol’ boys” who were “never meanin’ no harm”, the Confederate flag atop their signature vehicle, the “General Lee”, has become synonymous with ties to slavery, white supremacy and racial hatred.
To read the full interview with Karen Dunbar in The Herald Magazine, click here
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here