Swipe at modern comedians

Ronnie Corbett has revived the old argument that ‘modern comedy is too offensive’ in an interview lamenting the demise of family-friendly humour.

With the success of the likes of Michael McIntyre, Rob Brydon and Miranda Hart, some might think broad, light comedy is in the ascent.

But in an interview with the Radio Times, 80-year-old Corbett said comedy today is ‘grosser’ than in his Two Ronnies heyday.

‘I don’t see the requirement to upset people,’ he said. ‘You’re there to entertain and please. We’d never do anything tasteless.

‘There’s enough to make fun of without offending. Our comedy was light-hearted amusement that seemingly tripped naturally off the tongue. That’s why I don’t think it will date.’

Corbett was specifically about Frankie Boyle, and said: ‘Oh my gosh. Yes. It’s not for me to say, but being outrageous is his territory. I’d be interested to chat to him to see why he wants to upset people. I don’t understand it.’

Corbett is making a two-part series for ITV, entitled Ronnie Corbett’s Comedy Britain, in which he meets comedians whose work he admires including Matt Lucas, John Cleese, David Mitchell, Michael McIntyre and Miranda Hart.

However, several of his heroes have had brushes with controversy: Cleese in his Python days and Lucas for some of the Little Britain sketches – a point Corbett concedes.

‘David [Walliams] and Matt are bold, funny, and imaginative, but I thought some of their characters wee’d or were sick too much,’ he said.

And he claimed there was ‘a superfluous amount’ of stand-up on TV.

‘Today it’s easier to become a comedian because there are more venues,’ he said. ‘Although you work for very little money at least you can practise saying a few words.

‘It’s never easy to make people laugh, but nowadays more comedians are bold enough to burst into full bloom prematurely.’

Corbett also complained about the dress code of a lot of comedians, saying: ‘It upsets me if someone before a show is wearing jeans and a jersey then goes on stage in the same clothes. You have to dress up and present yourself as a “turn”.’

Published: 2 Aug 2011