BBC removes blackface sketches from ‘That Mitchell and Webb Look’

The BBC has removed approximately 11 sketches from the comedy series ‘That Mitchell and Webb Look’ following its recent addition to BBC iPlayer to mark the show’s 20th anniversary. The removed content includes scenes featuring blackface and sketches involving racial stereotypes, such as a parody of a makeover show involving a burqa and a skit featuring English Civil War re-enactors recreating a conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A BBC spokesperson stated that in consultation with the programme makers, the broadcaster included sketches that ‘still work today and not the ones that don’t.’

The decision has drawn criticism from comedy figures. Comedian Dom Joly described the move as ‘hysterical censorship,’ arguing that the intent of the comedians was not to be racist. Veteran producer Jimmy Mulville also suggested that nuance is often lost in the current social media era.