Blackadder has become the latest of many classic British comedies to receive a warning over its content.
The second episode of the first series, Born to Be King now has a disclaimer at the beginning for those who are viewing it on iPlayer. It reads: ‘Contains discriminatory language and content that some viewers may find offensive.’
First broadcast in 1983 and set in the 1400s, Rowan Atkinson’s character Prince Edmund has a dispute with Dougal McAngus, Duke Of Argyll, as played by Alex Norton.
Dougal has performed heroics in battle against the Turks and has been awarded Edmund’s land as a reward.
Unimpressed, Blackadder says: ‘You come in here fresh from slaughtering a couple of Chocos when their backs were turned and you think you can upset the harmony of a whole kingdom.’
This slur was used by Richard Keys against a black player in 2011 that resulted in the football pundit being condemned by the media.
Blackadder is not the first BBC comedy to have a disclaimer added that reflect on the changing attitudes. Last month, the 1971 film version of Dad’s Army received a similar warning over its language. The content in question was a scene where Corporal Jones uses the term ‘fuzzy-wuzzies’, in referring to the troops of Sudan.
And earlier this week, sitcom the Royle Family have been given a warning for Ricky Tomlinson’s character Jim Royle who calls Changing Rooms host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen a ‘nancy boy’.
The BBC have explained their reasoning for their new disclaimer policy, saying: ‘Some older programmes on occasion contain language that some viewers find offensive, inappropriate or which have now fallen out of use, and for that reason, we do make that clear on BBC iPlayer and elsewhere.’
What are your thoughts on the content disclaimers being added to the comedies mentioned above?
jackie saunders January 15, 2021 at 4:53 pm
Utterly ridiculous with this woke agenda you cannot put warnings on old comedies in case a word upsets someone watching there are things I find offence in modern programmes when history is rewritten to suit the woke viewers. You cannot police all programs to suit everyone there is an on off switch if you don’t like something
Peter Sykes January 15, 2021 at 5:02 pm
The World has crumbled and the Soft Center’s have taken over……..
Absolute astonished….especially about Dad’s Army…..
Dawn klemp January 15, 2021 at 6:49 pm
It’s pathetic , I’m sick and tired of not being able to have freedom of speech in case of upsetting someone or it not being PC for goodness sake it’s comedy this is why we can no longer watch programs with the likes of Alf Garnet or even Love Thy Neighbour I honestly wake up in the morning and think What’s going to make you cry today snowflakes 😉
Colin Saunders January 15, 2021 at 7:31 pm
Bloody pathetic and reinforces the direction of our snowflake society, the BBC and the media in general. Unbelievable hypocrisy
Les long January 15, 2021 at 7:43 pm
What a load of offensive crap! I am offended that the woke brigade are trying to change/rewrite history because they are so narrow minded .
Tim Barker January 15, 2021 at 8:47 pm
For all of those commenting “totally unfair” think for a moment, how would you feel if you were black ? Would you laugh the same way? Casual, informal racism is the problem here. The world has moved on. While these programs remain as wonderful entertainment, let’s recognise that words matter.
Andy bell January 15, 2021 at 9:05 pm
I’m more concerned about historical inaccuracy, giving the younger? Generation ridiculous ideas, such as Mary Queen of Scots having black and oriental servants (but not white!)
Jenny Dukeshire January 15, 2021 at 9:10 pm
Bloody ridiculous!!
Richard Hope January 16, 2021 at 9:06 am
My attitude to this has changed .
It is clear that the examples given taken at face value could be construed as racist. They crop up all over the place and some are worse than others.. Guy Gibsons dog in Dam busters. The major in Fawlty Towers when discussing watching cricket at Lords…
We are adults and realise that it was not the programme makers intention to be racist.
“RACIST:
prejudiced against or antagonistic towards a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalised”
However by adding these warnings if it allows these classics still to be shown then it is a good thing…
We should have the choice to still watch these programmes as they are a part of our heritage… heritage sometimes involves good episodes and sometimes appalling ones..
Should we ban footage of the Holocaust… pretty racist occurrence I think…
unwitting January 23, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Ɗo you have any video of that? I’d like to find out more details.