"BBC bans repeats of It' Ain't Half Hot Mum." Topic

Jimmy Perry, one of the writers, is complaining about the BBC's decision to ban repeats of It' Ain't Half Hot Mum, from the 70's. His and David Croft's follow on from Dad's Army. Main complaint seems to be about Michael Bates "blacking up" to play bearer Ranji Ram. I met Michael many years ago and talked about his experiences in India. He had been born and brought up there, spoke several Indian languages fluently and had a deep love of the country and its people. I can't remember anything in his performances that could be taken as disrespectfull so can only assume the objection is purely based on his skin colour.

And the fact that it is no longer funny, and the casual racism towards the 2 Indian camp workers.

Bought the series on DvD and it really doesn't hold up.

From what I remember his was the cleverest character!

Not a series that I enjoyed but sadly, more PC policing, utterly stupid to whitewash the past away I'm almost surprised that our PC censorship still allow "Dad's Army".

Shussh….Britain has a history…some people might not like it. Close your eyes and wish for the omni-present only.

You can see this both ways. IAHHM leaves me cold but I have always liked Dads Army. Both over before I was born and watched on repeats.

Perhaps this will lead to the BBC banning Dad's too?

GBS

Depends on who complains, I suspect.

From what I remember his was the cleverest character!

That's my recollection too. The Indians were the smartest – the 2 British officers in particular coming off very badly.

Main complaint seems to be about Michael Bates "blacking up" to play bearer Ranji Ram.

utterly stupid to whitewash the past away

An interesting statement, considering the main complaint.

Times change, and what was acceptable entertainment in the past might not be today.

Yeah – only the main "Indian" character was white and was wearing make-up. And that's the main problem.

They also don't show the black and white minstrel show….

Are they banning it from being shown on any channel, or just refusing to show it themselves?

If it's the latter then I'm sure it'll pop up on GOLD at some point.

It is currently being shown on Jones' in New Zealand.

YouTube link

x42

You can get the complete series for under £25.00 GBP on DVD link

Yeah – only the main "Indian" character was white and was wearing make-up. And that's the main problem.

They also don't show the black and white minstrel show….

The Black and White Minstrel show I can understand as they weren't portraying authentic characters, but a racial stereotype with offensive connotations. Is it now considered de facto racist for an actor to darken his or her skin tone to play a character? If so does that also make Lenny Henry racist for "whiting up" to a play a mob hitman in "True Identity"? And is it ok to play an offensive racial stereotype as long as your skin tone matches that of the character you are playing?

You can get Love thy Neighbour on DVD for some really '70's fun………several of the IAAHM episodes were good…….there was one when the Japs had broken thru' and the concert party had to prepare to stand and fight much to the Sgt-Majors delight…………

…'

Michael Bates
Actor
Michael Bates was an Anglo-Indian actor born in Jhansi, United Provinces, British India. Wikipedia

Not much chance of a re-run of Alf Garnett and 'till death us do part' then.

Not much chance of a re-run of Alf Garnett and 'till death us do part' then.

Not that will be ok, as Warren Mitchell had the right skin tone for the offensive stereotype he was playing! :-)

But the whole joke with Alf Garnett was that he was the object of ridicule as the world was changing and he was stuck in the past with his racist, sexist and homophobic views. In a similar way to Rangi Ram being the savvy character telling us about the stupid tommies in IAHHM.

I've just watched some of the IAHHM that are linked to above and I had totally forgotten the Michael Bates character, and as a youngster I don't think I ever registered that this was somebody 'blacked up'. But looking at the credits at the end there is a sizeable number of actors with Asian sub continent names. So in some ways this could be classed as a break through programme.

As BSM WILLIAMS in the show said,
"Never before have I seen such a blatant display of poofery!"

Its the BBC.. A fart in their direction is seen as a cummon to that bunch. Call it a "stepping in a BBC" from now on, he he. As long as there's the net they can't eradicate it anyway. Cheers +h never got to see that series and got to lookit up now, see what these step in it have done now. ;)

What would have been the harm in airing the episodes but starting and ending the transmission with a short sequence stating the at the programme was made in the 1980s when it wasn't realised how racist it was to have a white actor play a black character, and make it clear that such blatant racism is now utterly verboten….

Then everyone could sit back content after the show and happily watch African militias murder their schoolkids whilst sipping champagne, all aglow with the smug satisfaction of a liberal conscience…

The BBC is one of those organisations I detest. Nothing the BBC surprises me. Its nothing but the propaganda arm for the Political correct Liberal party. I am going to stop there before I say something that will get me dog housed.

"How dare you put flourishes under your signature!" PC complaints or not, that was funny.

I'd be for banning a lot of the BBC's broadcasts, in addition to this one.

It wasn't a good show, that's a good enough reason not too screen it surely?

Is'nt the BBC the people currently showing 'The Musketeers" with a black man playing a white Frenchman?
And did'nt they produce 'Merlin' with a black Guinivere?

OMG!!! Gaz0045 used a disparaging racial epithet to refer to people of Japanese nationality!! Gasp!! Stone him!!!

Isn't … didn't … Never mind PC. What about the apostrophe?

Made '74-'81 and I remember watching a few episodes as a lad. Got the DVD set and was amazed at how much I had never seen and also how much my perspective on the humour had changed – last episode really choked me up too, very emotional.

And did'nt they produce 'Merlin' with a black Guinivere?

Yes – in that retelling of the arthur story Guinivere just happened to be black. Arthur could be black, Merlin could be Japanese, or a woman – it's a fantasy story.

I think I realised straight away that Rangi Ram was the cleverest character in IAHHM, possibly followed by the punkah wallah. Most of the English characters were stupid or deluded or both. I mean would you trust Gunner Graham with a spent match? In that sense it's – to a white British mind – not as bad as it may seem. Thing is though in todays world it can't get past the fact that there is a lot of apparent rascism and that's enough to make the charges stick. There's aways the DVD and given the choice I'd watch Dads Army anyway.

I'd also say this, the BBC has faults but it is not owned by a media mogul with his own agenda and it is not a government mouthpiece. A politician of any political persuasion can expect a grilling from Paxman or Humphries if they scent blood and if it is a bit soft on liberal values, well – what do you want? A Ministry of Truth telling you nothing but today's state sanctioned, dumbed down lies?

Fair comment Goonfighter!

It's a pretty fair state when all the political parties claim the BBC are against them – too right wing, too left wing etc. It's not just Paxo they have to worry about either. There are a good few staff on "News 24" who put politicians through the ringer too.

BTW, just seen the first episode of "W1A" and I think it takes a network with gonads the size of China to put that out. Good on'em.

Can you watch "Amos and Andy" on BBC?

Interesting to me that what they consider Liberal is only what they believe. I guess they aren't "Liberal" enough to allow room for opinions other than their own.

One presumes that takes 'Teahouse of the August Moon,' "Gunga Din' (love that movie), etc. off the playlists as well.

Of course not being in the UK and having access to the BBC those might never have been on the schedule.

I would be amazed if any of the BBC luvvies have ever bothered to watch it.

What Gaz & Goon said.

I watched IABSM back in the 70s (not the 80s), it really wasn't as good as Dads Army, but passed the time.

"I'd be for banning a lot of the BBC's broadcasts, in addition to this one."

Oh the irony, it just cracks me up.

Anyone who thinks that the BBC is run by the leftwing PC brigade has clearly never watched Top Gear. Nuff said.

Have to agree with Goonfighter if all the parties thinks the BBC is against them, then it must be doing something right

@Martin I didnt know Two Fat Lardies made TV programs LOL

The BBC is the epitome of self hating middle class white lefty third rate so called intellectuals. Which is why I don't give them any money.

It wasn't a good show, that's a good enough reason not too screen it surely?

That will never catch on. If it did we would get about 2 hours telly a night! :-)

The show was pretty awful at the time; it hasn't improved with age.

It's no Dad's Army that's for sure.

I am not a fan of ultra PC, however, Blackface isn't the only issue, although I don't see that he was born in India means anything. Is it OK to blackface in America so long as you are from Mississippi? The BBC didn't like the casting at the time, its nothing new.
There is also the devious Jew whose father is a pawnbroker. He's always scheming plots, they do that you know, no really. Lets not forget the effeminate (not gay surely) guy who loves dressing as a woman and is a coward. No negative reinforcement there at all is there? By the way, poof is a derogatory term for a gay man. No different to n****r for a black guy. I don't think any US station will be using that term as a comedy item anytime time soon.
Contrast this with Alf Garnett where his views are always proved wrong and he ends up the loser.
Bottom line, its garbage, not very funny then or now, and is likely to upset a whole lot more people than it will entertain. It is no loss to the comedic library of the Beeb. If I was the BBC I wouldn't run it either. Dads army, totally different. Better characters, better writing. Deals with class as its main humour point. Even the 'soft' conscientious objector is actually a hero.

No Dad's Army for sure. To me it always seemed like a not-entirely-successful attempt to clone DA.

But watching old episodes of Dad's Army, I was surprised by how many actors who later appeared in IAHHM popped up in minor roles. The two drippy officers, for instance, appeared as a pair – playing two drippy officers – in an episode where Pikey got himself caught in some barbed wire inside a minefield on the beach.

@JezEger

Not having seen it in 35 years or more all I can recall is that it was certainly not up to Dads Army in quality of acting and scripts. Even as a child that was clear.

I suspect you've hit the nail on the head – It's a little too racist and a little too homophobic for today's mainstream tastes.

It's not banned – it's out there on DVD for those who really want it. Storm in a teacup really.

The po-faced killjoys are out in strength today…

The BBC didn't like the casting at the time, its nothing new.

According to Jimmy Perry it was a case of Hobson's choice. They couldn't find an Indian actor to play Ranji Ram. IIRC the punkah wallah was a waiter in an Indian restaurant prior to going on the show.

Not having seen it in 35 years or more all I can recall is that it was certainly not up to Dads Army in quality of acting and scripts. Even as a child that was clear.

My recollection was of a few good episodes, but not the consistent quality of Dad's Army. To be fair though the first 2 series of Dad's Army were good, but it went down hill after that and the later series had some dire, unfunny episodes. We all remember the classic ones of course like the captured U Boat crew.

Agreed – but the later ones still remain "ok" thanks to the cast. IMO.