That’s TV to air original series, 20 years on

Little Britain is to return to terrestrial TV  to mark 20 years since the comedy first aired. 

Freeview TV channel That’s TV will be airing Matt Lucas and David Walliams’s original sketches over the Christmas period.

However, some of the more controversial characters - such as Walliams blacking up to play the  overweight Desiree DeVere and Lucas playing ‘Thai bride’ Ting Tong, below, – will not be returning.

The series was removed from Netflix and iPlayer in 2020 over the controversy, but restored to the BBC  platform last year after its creators made edits to ‘better reflect the changes in the cultural landscape over the last 20 years’.

A spokesman for That’s TV said it would be broadcasting the iPlayer version, with any scenes where Walliams and Lucas play other races removed. 

They said: ‘What will be shown is in line with the revised versions of the show that were updated after it was removed from various streamers in 2020.’

However the latest versions are not without controversy. In October, watchdogs at Ofcom found viewers were surprised that one particular scene was still available. It featured Walliams as university counsellor Linda Flint describing student Kenneth Lao as having ‘yellowish skin, slight smell of soy sauce … that’s right, the ching-chong Chinaman’.

That’s TVs head of programming Kris Vaiksalu said: ‘When the show hit the screens 20 years ago it quickly became a cultural phenomenon and made Lucas and Walliams into comedy Gods. On this anniversary, it’s extra special for us to be able to show Little Britain every night as part of our Christmas week comedy festival. 

‘There is a great tradition of British TV comedy being used to expose and ridicule prejudice.  I am absolutely clear that Little Britain sets out to lampoon all forms of prejudice, the clue being in the name. 

‘We carefully consider the expectations of our audience and the episodes of Little Britain we are showing have been edited in collaboration with Matt and David. We’ve studied Ofcom’s research and are confident that all of our shows this Christmas comply with all Ofcom rules.’

Narrated by Tom Baker, Little Britain launched on digital channel BBC Three in 2003. It was an ratings hit and went on to secure more than nine million viewers following its move to BBC One in 2005. It also won the Bafta award for best comedy in both 2004 and 2005.

That’s TV is to broadcast all three seasons of Little Britain as well as the 2006 Christmas specials Little Britain Abroad as part of its festive line-up. The first episode launches this Saturday at 9.05pm.

The channel’s  Christmas and New Year line-up includes an number of vintage comedies, including No Place Like Home, which featured Martin Clunes in his first major TV roles.

Other shows in their schedule include:

• Bread Christmas Specials (1998, 1999 and 1990)
• The League of Gentlemen Christmas special (2000)
• Steptoe and Son Christmas specials (1973 and 1974)
• Play for Today: Abigail’s Party starring Alison Steadman (1977)
• The Brittas Empire Christmas special (1994)
• Black Mirror: White Christmas (2014)
• Fresh Fields Christmas special (1985)
• After Henry Christmas special (1988)
• Never the Twain Christmas special (1989)
• Shelly Christmas special (1980)
• Robin’s Nest Christmas special (1979)
• The Best of Mr Bean (1995)
• Kenny Everett New Year specials (1978, 1979 and 1980) 
• Carry on Christmas specials (1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973)

That’s TV is available on Freeview channel 56, Sky channel 171, Freesat channel 178 and Virgin Media channel 150. A local version of That’s TV is also available in 20 locations on Freeview channel 7/8

Published: 15 Dec 2023