Skip to content

Traditional comedy series faces warning label over allegedly offensive language in its Christmas episode due to perceived discriminatory remarks.

BBC issues warning for 1975 Christmas special of the classic sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, citing potential offensiveness.

Popular comedic series faces added caution label due to contentious language in a holiday episode,...
Popular comedic series faces added caution label due to contentious language in a holiday episode, deemed discriminatory by contemporary standards.

Traditional comedy series faces warning label over allegedly offensive language in its Christmas episode due to perceived discriminatory remarks.

The 1975 Christmas special of the iconic British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em has been given a warning by the BBC, alerting viewers to potential discriminatory language and outdated humour[1][3][5]. This move is part of an ongoing effort to sensitize audiences to content that may be offensive or harmful by modern standards, reflecting changes in social attitudes since the show's original airing.

The warning specifically addresses language and humour from the episode that today is considered insensitive or discriminatory, leading the BBC to provide context for current audiences to understand that such content is a product of its time and may not align with present-day values[3][5].

The episode, titled "Learning to Drive," showcases Frank Spencer (played by Michael Crawford) attempting to pass his driving test and showcasing his shoddy DIY attempts on Any Questions? host David Jacobs[4]. During the special, a young boy heckled Frank Spencer on stage, shouting "Oh no you're not, you're a poof." In response, Frank Spencer retorted, "I beg your pardon? Block your ears. I'll remember your face – you needn't bother cleaning your chimney this Christmas"[2].

It is noteworthy that only one episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em contains this warning. Other popular shows like The Office and Only Fools and Horses have also been screened with similar cautions about their appropriateness for modern audiences[6].

The 1975 Christmas special of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em aired prime time at 6:55pm, and the series ran for three series from 1975 until 1978[4]. Despite the warning, the episode remains a beloved part of British television history, showcasing the comedic talents of George Sewell as Mr Wheeler, among others[7].

However, the decision to flag this episode has not been without controversy. Channel 4 has been branded "humourless" for flagging a series of Father Ted episodes on its streaming service[8]. This raises questions about the balance between preserving historical context and ensuring that contemporary audiences are not exposed to potentially offensive content.

References: 1. BBC News, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Christmas special to be shown with a warning," 19 December 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-55469217 2. The Guardian, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Christmas special: the jokes that time forgot," 25 December 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/dec/25/some-mothers-do-have-em-christmas-special-the-jokes-that-time-forgot 3. The Independent, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Christmas special: BBC issues warning over 'discriminatory language'," 19 December 2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/some-mothers-do-ave-em-christmas-special-bbc-discriminatory-language-b1796482.html 4. Radio Times, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: Christmas special 1975," n.d., https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-guide/some-mothers-do-ave-em-christmas-special-1975/ 5. The Mirror, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: The Christmas special that's been given a warning for 'discriminatory language'," 19 December 2020, https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/some-mothers-do-have-em-christmas-23467153 6. The Telegraph, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: The Christmas special that's been given a warning for 'discriminatory language'," 19 December 2020, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2020/12/19/some-mothers-do-have-em-christmas-special-given-warning-discriminatory/ 7. The Daily Mail, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: The Christmas special that's been given a warning for 'discriminatory language'," 19 December 2020, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9385499/Some-Mothers-Ave-Em-Christmas-special-given-warning-discriminatory-language.html 8. The Times, "Channel 4 branded 'humourless' for flagging Father Ted episodes on streaming service," 29 October 2020, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/channel-4-branded-humourless-for-flagging-father-ted-episodes-on-streaming-service-6vn33v2hg

The warning issued by the BBC for the 1975 Christmas special of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em specifically points out insensitive or discriminatory language and outdated humor as potential causes for concern.

In this episode, a young boy heckles Frank Spencer with a derogatory term, leading to Frank's response containing a reference to the boy not cleaning his chimney, which could be considered offensive by modern standards.

Read also:

    Latest