Viewers express concern in Ofcom survey that also covered Jimmy Carr's rape jokes

Viewers have expressed shock that an ‘explicitly racist’ Little Britain sketch is still available on the BBC iPlayer in an official report into TV standards.

Watchdogs Ofcom used a clip in which a character played by David Walliams called a student a ‘ching-chong Chinaman’ as part of its latest research into what viewers find acceptable on screen.

A panel of viewers who watched the clip said it should not be broadcast on linear TV and ‘many were surprised that it was still available’ on demand, the researchers found.

The subjects were also asked about a rape joke in Jimmy Carr’s Netflix stand-up special His Dark Materials – and although many found it offensive, others felt it was acceptable given the content warning and the fact viewers had to seek out the programme. 

The Little Britain scene was first broadcast in 2004 and featured university counsellor Linda Flint describing student Kenneth Lao  to someone on the phone as having ‘yellowish skin, slight smell of soy sauce … that’s right, the ching-chong Chinaman.’

On iPlayer the series is give a G rating, indicating it is suitable for a general audience, with the warnings that it contains ‘adult humour’ and ‘discriminatory language’. 

Ofcom’s research concluded: ‘Participants viewed this content as explicitly racist and outdated and felt that society had moved o

‘This content was not considered acceptable for linear TV and many were surprised that it was available on BBC iPlayer. Some participants said they found the clip funny, but "seemed embarrassed to say this and could recognise why it would be offensive."

Those involved in the Ofcom study said they wanted a specific warning about the racist language ‘and an explanation for why it was still accessible’ as well as believing it had an age rating of 15.

Others questioned why the BBC had removed controversial blackface scenes but allowed this sketch to remain, saying it was ‘purposely offensive in stereotyping and targeting an ethnic minority group for comedy purposes.’

The research document added: ‘Some reasoned that it was important to still show this content to reflect the beliefs of society at the time. However, there were concerns that it could normalise racist behaviours which could be repeated by young children.’

In response the BBC has said the sketch was ‘intended to expose and ridicule some of the outdated prejudices and racism that still exists in parts of British society  which is more apparent when viewing the sketches within the context of a full episode, and across the series as a whole.’

Jimmy Carr’s clip showed the comedian making jokes including: ‘I don’t have to pay for sex, I’m a rapist’ and ‘you can prevent any rape, just say yes.’

Participants believed that joking about rape ‘pushed boundaries too far’ and felt ot could cause harm to victims of sexual abuse. 

Some, particularly female participants, described feeling personally offended by the content. One Scottish woman said: ‘I find it really quite unacceptable, that kind of humour. There's no place for it.’

Others felt that if appropriately warned, then this is the type of ‘close to the bone’ comedy that they would expect from Carr and found it funny.  However, they also acknowledged  not everyone would find it acceptable.

Participants generally agreed that this clip would not be acceptable on linear TV and some thought it too offensive even for on-demand platforms because they believed it is never appropriate to joke about sexual abuse. 

However, others, even among those offended, thought it could be available to stream, as they felt it clearly stated that it was given an 18 certificate and could be locked with a PIN so children did not view it. 

The panel also considered that Netflix’s content warning did not go far enough. 

Its billing read: ‘Jimmy Carr finds humour in the darkest of places in this stand-up special that features his dry, sardonic wit – and some jokes he calls "career enders". It was categorised as ‘raunchy’ and briedly sceens the warning that it contains ‘[bad] language, sexual violence references, discrimination’. 

His jokes were seen by some participants as inappropriate, targetting victims of sexual abuse who could be triggered by both the punchlines and the fact other people in the crowd were laughing at them. 

There were concerns that these jokes could be repeated or even ‘normalise’ rape and negatively influence young men, particularly because Carr often appears on family-friendly TV  shows. 

‘If you have teenage boys, not everyone will be mature and intelligent enough to realise he's making a joke,’ said one participant. ‘ It’s a very serious subject, and they will just think it’s funny, and it normalises it. I don't think it should be on telly. If he wants to highlight it, he could speak about it properly and make people listen.’

However, others felt that if viewers were provided with appropriate warnings, then the intent behind this clip was to be funny and that comedy should not be censored.

Published: 31 Oct 2023