Bad comedians/comedy

In my view the most unpleasant comedian (I use the term loosely!) is Bernard Manning - I don't think there is ever a place for racism in comedy. I can remember when Bernard Manning first appeared on TV - it was on a programme that started in the 1970s called 'The Comedians'. Also on the programme were comedians like Frank Carson and a black man from Yorkshire called Charlie Williams (who was really funny) - I wonder how he felt having to work alongside Bernard Manning?

Having said there is no place for racism in comedy, I'm now about to contradict myself. Little Britain ticks all the politically incorrect 'ist' boxes; ageist, racist, disablist, fatist, chavist (OK, so the latter two don't exist, but you get the point). OR IS IT racist, disablist, etc, or, is it merely comedy depicting racism, etc? Or is it a class thing? Is this type of comedy more acceptable because it's coming from two southern, middle class, seemingly well educated, 'cutting-edge' comedy actors, whereas Bernard Manning is seen as a northern, working class, uncouth slob. This has got me thinking now. The reason so many people love Little Britain is very basic - because it's funny, which cannot be said about the ghastly Bernard Manning.

I wonder if anyone else is old enough to remember a 1970s TV sitcom called 'Love Thy Neighbour'? The story was of two couples living next door to each other - one black, one white - and the two men worked together. Whilst the wives got on well together, the white man hated his black neighbour simply because he was black. Words like 'nig-nog' were commonplace and the programme has been pilloried over the past two decades for its racist overtones. However, whilst the language used and the racism was totally unacceptable, the one good thing about the programme was that the black man (played incidentally by Rudolph Walker, aka Patrick Trueman in Eastenders) always got the better of the white bigot. For more information on this programme visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/l/lovethyneighbour_7774180.shtml

Talking of the 1970s which, as we all know, were the epitome of good taste (not!) - The Black & White Minstrel Show - what was that all about? White men, their faces painted black, white lips and eye sockets, acrylic wigs and top hats. It always used to be on TV on a Saturday evening after Dr Who. I used to hide behind the sofa, not because of the daleks - I was fine with them - but I was terrified of the Black & White Minstrels. This was what passed for high quality light entertainment when I was little - oh how the evenings flew by! Even in those politically incorrect times, what on earth was the BBC thinking of?!! Apparently the programme ran from 1958 until 1978 when someone at the BBC must have finally come to their senses. Bizarre! For more information on this TV 'classic' go to http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/variety/blackwhite.htm