News
James Besanvalle
Jun 10, 2020
Getty / BBC
If you’re looking to rewatch old episodes of “Little Britain”, you’ll now have to look a little harder as BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Britbox have all removed the show due to its use of blackface.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the news on Tuesday:
There's a lot of historical programming available on BBC iPlayer, which we regularly review. Times have changed since Little Britain first aired so it is not currently available on BBC iPlayer.
While BritBox stated:
Times have changed since Little Britain first aired, so it is not currently available on BritBox. Come Fly With Me has not been available on the service for six months.
Netflix is yet to publicly comment, but denied a rumoured reboot of the series is underway.
Since the announcements, many wondered how it took so long to be taken down, as the show has a long history of skits featuring blackface or mocking transgender people.
In fact, one of the show’s creators and stars, Matt Lucas, said in an interview in 2017:
If I could go back and do Little Britain again, I wouldn’t make those jokes about transvestites. I wouldn’t play black characters. Basically, I wouldn’t make that show now. It would upset people. We made a more cruel kind of comedy than I’d do now.
Nevertheless, some people were absolutely fuming that the BBC was enacting a “terrifying assault on our history and our minds”, in the words of one certain conservative commentator.
Some people were shocked by the decision...
@MartinDaubney The point of Little Britain was to show Britains diversity. It had the the toffs, chavs, gays, trans… https://t.co/akEVwCKIuY— #NoMasksInClassFarley (@#NoMasksInClassFarley) 1591717992
I am unsure about this. LITTLE BRITAIN was meant as satirical representation of every demographic, Gay, Straight, B… https://t.co/Sjs3OR4WpX— Gerry Stergiopoulos (@Gerry Stergiopoulos) 1591728796
Ah yes Little Britain is trending... I have been waiting for this moment for YEARS https://t.co/Zg9tkFxK7A— •Beth• (@•Beth•) 1591364565
I actually re-watched all of #littlebritain last month on Netflix and was staggered it was still on there then. Uns… https://t.co/jgW0MgfLuh— Luke Marsden (@Luke Marsden) 1591720961
But many were unsurprised.
People are wondering why @NetflixUK had removed Little Britain and Come Fly With Me.... Hmm, let me think... https://t.co/iLRGbcaX8P— Kris Who Tweets (@Kris Who Tweets) 1591437268
Who the fuck is still watching Little Britain in 2020?— Guy Fawkes (@Guy Fawkes) 1591775129
99% of people crying over Little Britain and Come Fly with Me being removed are white and cannot understand the pro… https://t.co/r4vPFKIUr3— rad (@rad) 1591719410
saw ppl calling out David Walliams/Little Britain being a racist show getting replied to with "in that case their g… https://t.co/qXuM8wmeRt— angharad (@angharad) 1591292518
I used to say #LittleBritain was a racist show when it aired. Demeaning other people’s cultures and racial appearan… https://t.co/aQvt4Qn4Pz— ✨ Miss Mac ✨ (@✨ Miss Mac ✨) 1591721825
While others were angry.
I think it a pity that Little Britain has been removed from Netflix and the BBC. It was funny and a product of its… https://t.co/hw0EuwvrxS— AngryBritain.com (@AngryBritain.com) 1591729754
They’ve taken Little Britain and Come Fly With Me off Netflix I am RAGING— Owen (@Owen) 1591380909
They're starting on Little Britain now... for fuck sake. For that reason I am getting the Box Set out tonight and w… https://t.co/nbf9OXePdM— Andy Le Feaver (@Andy Le Feaver) 1591380716
@jimwaterson @RevPaul @helenakelly__ So angry. This is going too far. I love Little Britain, it’s hilarious and t… https://t.co/kPguj5ym1a— Pamela Hooper (@Pamela Hooper) 1591724953
Though many, many people thought it was the right call...
David Walliams, Leigh Francis and Matt Lucas can all go to hell. For years, they did Blackface on NATIONAL TELEVISI… https://t.co/N1dc7LuD6w— shakeena 🛒 (@shakeena 🛒) 1591341654
So happy to see people finally tearing into David Walliams and Matt Lucas. Little Britain has done irreparable dama… https://t.co/D61R5WPoa4— JimJamJimJam (@JimJamJimJam) 1591342101
Being pissed off cause Come Fly With Me and Little Britain have being taken off Netflix is probably the highest of… https://t.co/d8IZnWx4b4— Beau Foletti (@Beau Foletti) 1591433331
So happy to see people finally tearing into David Walliams and Matt Lucas. Little Britain has done irreparable dama… https://t.co/D61R5WPoa4— JimJamJimJam (@JimJamJimJam) 1591342101
Matt Lucas or David Walliams are yet to publicly comment on their show being taken off these streaming platforms. If they do, we'll let you know.
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