Max Miller on TV rude jokes

[George Weight]

Note the info about Miller's jokes. I wonder if this is the routine that had him supposedly banned finally from BBC TV? Were the jokes that sleazy on TV? ("Have you heard about the girl of eighteen who swallowed a pin, but didn't feel the prick until she was twenty-one? ")

TELEVISION MUSIC HALL
A television programme
BBC Programme Number: LLV5603B
First broadcast on 1958-08-30
Description
(Extracts from variety show featuring Tessie O'SHEA & Max MILLER.
SP S MUSICAL PRFS:Reel 1:Tessie O'SHEA sings 'Hey There'(125'-244')'There You Are Then'(279'-334')'Cuddle Up Closer'(378'-497')'Two Ton Tessie' (& plays ukulele to this one)(532'-666') Reel 2:Tessie O'SHEA & Max MILLER sing & dance to 'Isn't It Grand To See Someone Smile'(Reel 2:294'-404')'Dearie'(when 'Television Toppers' join them on stage) (-601') STAND-UP COMEDY ROUTINE:Max MILLER tells s' 'jokes' (which often have sexist/ racist/homophobic content and/or punchlines)(Reel 1:713'-966')(& Reel 2:0'-293') Footage expressed as 35mm

[Dan S]

I believe it was a joke he told on a live radio show that got him banned from the BBC. The joke was something along the lines of "I was walking across a single-span bridge when I saw a beautiful woman walking across the bridge towards me. I didn't know whether to block her passage or toss myself off."

[George Weight]

Ah yes, this was from Radio, but I'm certain he was banned from BBC TV in the late 50s.

[Andrew Doherty]

In which case we must be grateful for the existence of this rare, possibly unique, late 50s telerecorded appearance of Max Miller.

I would quite like to view 'Music Hall' in its entirety.

Perhaps it could be found a suitable viewing spot on BBC2 or BBC4.

Yours,

[George Weight]

Slight problem - it is only an extract, not tthe full show. You can view a few rare bits of 50s BBC light entertainment (regional Scotland) shows from here:
www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus/wirelesstoweb/decades/index.shtml?decade=50s

[Brian Fretwell]

dan said:

I believe it was a joke he told on a live radio show that got him banned from the BBC. The joke was something along the lines of "I was walking across a single-span bridge when I saw a beautiful woman walking across the bridge towards me. I didn't know whether to block her passage or toss myself off."

I was told by someone (perhaps my ex-brother-in-law) that an astute BBC employee, who must have know the joke faded, Miller out before he met the lady.