AN episode of BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV manufacturing employee received offended by a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse gag.
An worker took offence at materials in the late comic genius’ volumes of handwritten joke books, some relationship as far again as the Sixties.
The hardback archives had been introduced in for restore by Bob’s outdated comedy writing associate Colin Edmonds and the late star’s adopted daughter Abigail Williams.
Footage of their restoration on the present’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, was as a result of be aired this 12 months, in a particular tribute to the much-loved entertainer who died in 2003 aged 75.
However it was thrown into chaos after a member of the manufacturing firm Ricochet complained about one among Bob’s jokes, claiming it was sexist.
BBC bosses then determined to axe the deliberate phase, leaving the consultants “disheartened”, and sparking ridicule.
A supply instructed The Sun: “The BBC has been mocked for its wokery, however this actually is a brand new low.
“A manufacturing worker stumbled throughout a joke – little question written within the Sixties – and took offence, believing it to be sexist.
“They flagged the issue, and a ‘collective decision’ was made to cull the entire thing.
“Experts ready to lovingly restore the historic joke books had been disheartened. And Bob’s family members, who had agreed to take part within the present to speak passionately about his life, had been at a loss. This needs to be the company’s most embarrassing determination but.
“They deserve all the condemnation and contempt coming their way.”
Bob’s joke journals contained hundreds of pages of meticulously handwritten gags, illustrated with cartoons and doodles from the person himself.
He began compiling them from the early Sixties and was nonetheless engaged on them simply earlier than he died.
Since his loss of life, they had been saved in suitcases beneath the desk of Mr Edmonds, who was gifted them in Bob’s will.
Among them had been cartoons of buxom topless ladies and jokes which may in the present day appear sexist.
Mr Edmonds stated of them beforehand: “They are of their time. There are things that were acceptable in the Seventies which one wouldn’t dream of saying today.”
Bob, whose spouse Jackie died in 2008, all the time carried a few books with him so he may add any recent gags as they got here to him.
It was these that had been stolen in 1995, earlier than they had been returned 18 months later, with a £10,000 reward paid out.
Mr Edmonds had agreed to be filmed final 12 months for The Repair Shop function alongside Abigail.
The BBC instructed The Sun it was a “production decision” to axe the Bob Monkhouse Repair Shop present, which the company “supported out of consideration for all viewers”.
It added that “production evaluates each and every item” and “decisions on which to run are made with the viewer in mind”.
A Ricochet spokesperson stated: “Making decisions on which items to repair and include in the programme is part of the normal production process. These decisions are based on a range of factors.”
