Radio Episodes banned by the BBC

[Ed Brown]

Before political correctness there was... Humour!

I understand that the BBC has introduced a policy of banning old radio shows in its archive from being broadcast on Radio 4 Extra.

I'm not entirely convinced that this is actually a new policy. However, the number of banned programmes has recently taken an alarming turn.

I've been given a list of 38 broadcasts which the BBC holds in its radio archives, which are currently banned in whole or in part. I thought I might share these details here. However, it's a lengthy list if even the briefest of details are included. I hope you'll therefore forgive the length of this posting.

Most of the cases involve broadcasts that originate in the 1960s or 1970s.

Someone has thoughtfully numbered the items for reference.


UPDATED ON 21 NOVEMBER '21 -
The original list, dated 8 August '21, contained 38 items. The latest list now contains 48 items.


=============================================================================
DATE REVISED: 2021-11-20
ITEMS: 48
=============================================================================


ITEM #01

# Title of programme -

Much Binding in the Marsh - s04e07 - 1950-05-03
Sketch Comedy, starring Kenneth Horne, Richard Murdoch, Sam Costa.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015f9b7

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-10-04

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 19:51 lasting 7 seconds.

A joke is cut. Horne is explaining to Murdoch that he has to interview
the candidates applying to be the new secretary. Murdoch's line is cut:

Horne: "Murdoch, these are applicants."
Murdoch: "Africans, sir? Ooh, good heavens. That means cannibals.
We'll have to give them a cut from Costa, and two veg."

Last uncut repeat: 2019-02-10

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #02

# Title of programme -

Hancock's Half Hour - s01e01 1954-11-02 - The First Night Party
Situation Comedy, starring Tony Hancock.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dyp5l

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-04-14

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 9:31 lasting 8 seconds.

This is (yet another) ludicrous cut. A line of Hancock's dialogue
is removed, when he calls to see Sid, in which he tells the doorman
the names of himself, Bill Kerr and Moira Lister, the three callers.

Doorman: "Can I help you?" <----------------------------- This line cut
Moira: "We wish to see Mr James."
Doorman: "Certainly. What names shall I give?" <--------- This line cut
Hancock: "Bill Kerr, Tony Hancock, and Moira Lister." <-- This line cut
Doorman: "You'll have to wait, Mr James is on the blower."

Last uncut repeat: 2018-01-08

# Reason for cut -

Unknown.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #03

# Title of programme -

The TV Lark - Episode 8 - The Potarneyland Election
Situation Comedy, starring Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee, Ronnie Barker.
t/x 1963-03-15

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cwsl7

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2021-02-21 in the latest repeat of the 1963 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2013-04-12

# Reason for banning -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

Possibly because the episode includes Ronnie Barker and Michael Bates
playing two (fictitious) foreigners with foreign accents, even though
they're from a fictional country (Portarneyland).

Now merely having a foreign accent is enough to get a broadcast banned
by the thought police.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #04

# Title of programme -

The Arthur Haynes Show - 1963-07-07

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008hpm

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2021-06-27 in the latest repeat of the 1963 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2019-09-15

# Reason for banning -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #05

# Title of programme -

Round The Horne - s01e12 - 1965-05-23
Sketch Comedy, starring Kenneth Horne.

The 12th edition of the 1st series: "The Man with the Golden Thunderball"

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j05x3
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hlxxw

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2021-04-01 in the latest repeat of the 1965 series.

# Description of cuts, with length, starting point -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2018-03-21 with cut, see below
(last uncut repeat 2011-01-24).

# Reason for banning -

Unknown. Not due to the reference to the late Jimmy Savile: the episode
was repeated twice, with the reference cut, on 2013-03-04 and 2018-03-21.


# Previous Cut Repeats -

a. 2018-03-21 rpt:

The last rpt was on 2018-03-21 (duration 28:05). That repeat contains
one sketch which has been cut (an mp3 [hissy] circulates, containing a
complete recording of the affected sketch as originally transmitted).

In the affected sketch, "Kenneth Horne Masterspy", reference to a BBC
disk jockey, the late Jimmy Savile, was cut (Jimmy is now deemed a
'non-person' by the thought police, since October 2012).

Original duration of sketch: 9'59

These lines cut (30 seconds) (5:28 to 5:58 in mp3), immediately after
the line "An oval face swam into view, framed by long blonde hair":

Kenneth Horne: "It was either the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen,
or Jimmy Savile. (Laughter) The vision spoke."
Betty Marsden: "Do you know who I am, Mr Horne?"
Kenneth Horne: "The most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
Betty Marsden: "No, Jimmy Savile. (Audience laughter) No, please,
no relation to the disk jockey. Just a remarkable
co-incidence."

b. 2013-03-04 rpt:

The repeat on 2013-03-04 (duration 28:05) includes this cut. At 08:13
the "Kenneth Horne Masterspy" sketch cuts the Jimmy Savile reference.


# Additional Notes -

a. The repeat on 2012-07-07 does NOT have any cuts I could find.
That repeat was part of "Comedy Greats - Overseas" [b01kjqzg],
a 3 hour special, which contained the TS Edit from a vinyl disc.

This was a special re-recording for the use of overseas stations,
made by the BBC's Transcription Service, with some scripted changes.
It is NOT a re-edit taken from the original recording.

In this 3 hour special, "Round The Horne" begins at 2:03:52. No
references to purely local UK celebrities (i.e. David Frost and
Jimmy Savile) are included in the revised script. So there is
nothing to cut.


b. I checked 3 other sketches from programme #12 against the mp3,
and found NO other cuts -

1. The sketch with Bill Pertwee as Dr Gaylord Haemoglobin has NO cuts.
"Trends in Health". Original duration (mp3): 1'44"

2. The Rambling Sid Rumpo sketch with Kenneth Williams, about
the herring fishermen of Hampstead Garden Suburb, has NO cuts.
"Trends in Music". Original duration (mp3): 1'45"

3. The Julian and Sandy sketch (Bona Homes gardening) has NO cuts.
"Trends in the Home". Original duration (mp3): 3'43"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #06

# Title of programme -

Round the Horne - s01e15 - 1965-06-12
Sketch Comedy, starring Kenneth Horne. "Secret Rocket Base in Haiti".

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j272g

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-04-15

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 9:52 lasting 6 seconds.

In a sketch set in Haiti, master spy Kenneth Horne is startled when
a native skin diver surfaces - in Ken's bath! These 2 lines were cut:

Kenneth Horne: "He spoke."
Bill Pertwee: "Pass along the bath, man." (Audience laughter)

Last uncut repeat: 2018-04-11

All repeats are broadcast from the TS Edit (the original duration
of which, without the playout music, is 26:52)

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #07

# Title of programme -

Round the Horne - s01e16 - 1965-06-20
Sketch Comedy, starring Kenneth Horne.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j7qhl

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-04-22

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

1st cut at 00:00 lasting 23 seconds.
2nd cut at 12:18 lasting 16 seconds.

Last uncut repeat: 2018-04-18


# Cut #1: The first 23 seconds of the programme are cut -

Douglas Smith: "Here are details of some of this week's programmes
on BBC radio."
Bill Pertwee: "In community singing on Sunday, the Reverend Angus
Smith will not be leading his congregation in
singing The Skye Boat Song." [Audience laughter]
Kenneth Williams: "And on Thursday, you'll be able to hear Mr Peter
Cadbury reading excerpts from his autobiography,
entitled Reminiscences of a Chocolate-covered
Tycoon." [Audience laughter]
Douglas Smith: "Meanwhile..."


Reason for cut #1 -

a. I've no idea who the Reverend Smith is; nor why the harmless Scottish
ballad, 'The Skye Boat Song', is now deemed politically incorrect.

b. In 1965 Peter Cadbury was the boss of the company Cadbury's Chocolates.
A 19th Century music hall star, G H Elliott, sang a popular song about
a Chocolate coloured coon.


# Cut #2: The following lines are cut, at 12:18, after Kenneth Williams
puts on a striped blazer and a straw hat -

Kenneth Horne: "Then, quickly blacking-up his face, he leaped onto
the table, and..."
Kenneth Williams: (Sings in style of Al Jolson) "Swanney, how I love
you..." [rest of line drowned by audience laughter]
Kenneth Horne: "All right, we'll let you know. We'll let you know!"
Kenneth Williams: (Continues singing, but unintelligibly) "Oo, that's
too high!"
Kenneth Horne: "Yes."


Reason for cut #2 -

Presumably because of the reference to Kenneth Williams supposedly
blacking-up. But in fact that never happened, because stage make-up
is not used on radio shows.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #08

# Title of programme -

Round The Horne - s04e16 - 1968-06-09
Sketch Comedy, starring Kenneth Horne.

The last-ever episode.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tlwzb

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-08-27

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 4:56 lasting 18 seconds. A joke about Indian bus conductors
is removed, in a sketch about big-game hunting in Africa:

Kenneth Horne: "And so the Expedition began. We soon met up with a
dark skinned native. How far is it to the Zambezi?"
Kenneth Williams: "I don't know man, this bus only goes as far as
Golders Green!" (Audience laughter)

Last uncut repeat: 2016-05-31

Note: This episode is included in the 3 Hour Special, "Horne of Plenty"
(t/x May 2004), a documentary about 'Beyond Our Ken' and 'Round
the Horne'. Repeats of this Special (e.g. 2020-04-04, 2021-08-28)
are uncut: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007k2b6

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #09

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1967-05-14
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 4th edition in the 1967 series.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vdc3h

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-09-14

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Cuts totaling 73 seconds.

Last uncut repeat: 2017-12-01


1st cut at 16:07 (lasting 60 seconds). These lines were cut in Eskimo
sketch, about a dog sledge pulled by Huskies:

Bill Oddie : "All we need to find now is a good dog team."
David Hatch : (Chinese accent) "Ah. Perhaps I can help."
Bill Oddie : "Good heavens. A little furry Chinaman."
David Hatch : "No, no. I am Eskimo."
Tim B-Taylor: "You sound like a Chinaman."
David Hatch : (Jewish accent) "Who knows what an Ekimo sounds like,
already."
Bill Oddie : "No, no."
David Hatch : "Yes, yes. You want to buy team of dogs?"
Bill Oddie : "Yes."
David Hatch : "Mush."
Bill Oddie : "Okay mate."
David Hatch : "Mush."
Bill Oddie : "Here boys, mush."
F/X : (Dogs barking)
Jo Kendall : "Ahh! It's a little husky."
Tim B-Taylor: "Well, it's got a sore throat."
David Hatch : "Well, there we are, very obedient dogs. You call mush,
they answer."
Bill Oddie : "Splendid. How much?"
F/X : (Dogs barking)
Bill Oddie : "No, not mush..."
F/X : (Dogs barking)
Bill Oddie : "...money."
David Hatch : "Oh. Hundred pound."
Bill Oddie : "Too much."
F/X : (Dogs barking)
David Hatch : "Fifty pound."
Bill Oddie : "That's much..."
F/X : (Dogs barking)
Bill Oddie : "... more like it. And does it take much..."
F/X : (Dogs barking)
Bill Oddie : "... to feed them?"
David Hatch : "No. Half a pound of mush..."
F/X : (Dogs barking)
David Hatch : "...rooms. [Audience laughter] Or a large plate of
sausage and mash."
F/X : (Dogs barking)


2nd cut at 20:58 (lasting 13 seconds). These lines were cut in fishing
sketch (poof joke?):

David Hatch : "I've got an old flatfish."
Jo Kendall : "I'll have it."
Tim Brooke Taylor : "No. Look, it's bad."
Jo Kendall : "You mean..."
Tim Brooke Taylor : "Yes. This is no plaice for a girl like you!"
(Audience groans)
David Hatch : "But we must do something to keep warm."
Tim Brooke Taylor : (As Lady Constance) "Er..." (Audience laughter)


# Reason for cuts -

1st cut presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

2nd cut: Reason unknown (stupidity?)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #10

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1967-06-04
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 7th edition in the 1967 series.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vt6jy
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vt6jt

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-10-05.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 22:37 lasting 13 seconds.

In a historical sketch where the setting is a dark night,
these 2 lines were removed:

David Hatch: "The black night closed in on them."
Bill Oddie: (As black Knight) "How d'ya do der, honey?" (Applause)

Last uncut repeat: 2017-12-22

# Further information -

1st sketch: (song) "Should I let my ferret go?"

Other Sketches: A "Grim" fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Green Witch;
a Russian love song; the transport cafe that discovered Haute Cuisine.

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #11

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1967-06-18
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 9th edition in the 1967 series.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w6bw8

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2020-10-19 in the latest repeat of the 1967 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2018-01-05 (believed to be uncut)

# Reason for banning -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

Sketches include: A cricket lament; and Wild West drama The Lone Stranger
("Lone Ranger" spoof).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #12

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1967-07-02
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 11th edition in the 1967 series.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00whw3r

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2020-10-26 or 2020-11-02, in the latest repeat
of the 1967 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2018-01-19 (believed to be uncut)

# Further information -

1st sketch: An osteopath's 1st day. Other sketches include:
A stockingless thief; and "Shakespeare: from Bard to Verse".

# Reason for banning -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #13

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1967-07-23
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 14th edition in the 1967 series.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wwn0j

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-11-09

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Cuts totaling 58 seconds.

Last uncut repeat: 2018-02-09


1st cut at 16:26 lasting 8 seconds. These lines were cut:

Effects : (Dance music for the traditional dance known as The
Black Bottom, in "Red Shadow" Foreign Legion spoof)
Bill Oddie : "What's that?"
John Cleese: "The black bottom." (Audience laughter at bottom joke)
Bill Oddie : (Indistinct, drowned out by audience)


2nd cut at 23:33 lasting 50 seconds. These lines were cut:

John Cleese : "Very well, if you can fit four of them into one sentence
I shall spare you all.
Tim B-Taylor: "We have to fit four jokes into one sentence?"
Bill Oddie : "Four jokes? Into one sentence? It's impossible."
Tim B-Taylor: "David, perhaps you could..."
David Hatch : "Oh. Oh dear. Yes. Um... I and my German friend, Hans,
ran into the black night."
Bill Oddie : "How d'ya do der, honey?"
All : "One."
David Hatch : "And although Hans knees were knocking..."
Bill Oddie : "Hans what?"
David Hatch : "Hans knees."
All : "And boomp-sey-daisy. Two."
David Hatch : "I felt self assured."
Bill Oddie : "Self what?"
David Hatch : "Assured. Assured."
All : "All fall down. Three."
David Hatch : "Er..."
Bill Oddie : "Go on!"
David Hatch : "Oh!"
John Cleese : "That's only three. I want one more."
Tim B-Taylor: "I'll give you this little gold box of priceless jewels."
John Cleese : "No, I want another funny."
David Hatch : "I'll... I'll try."

# Reason for cuts -

1st cut : Unknown reason

2nd cut : Probably because it includes a line banned in a previous
episode, above (see the 7th episode of this 1967 series)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #14

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1969-03-30
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 12th edition in the 1969 series: "Electric Time Trousers, part 12"

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01211y0

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-07-08

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 8:12 lasting 49 seconds.

Last uncut repeat: 2018-08-03


Song sung by Bill Oddie is cut (known as "The Henry V song").

In a rock-and-roll musical adaptation of Act 3 Scene 1 of Shakespeare's
play "Henry V", a song performed by Bill Oddie is cut by 49 seconds.

Due to the loudness of the music, and Bill's diction, it's difficult
to comprehend the lyrics! So it's not clear which part of the song
has been cut, only that its overall length is reduced by 49 seconds.

Lyrics seem, so far as audible, to be lines from Shakespeare's play,
set to music. Original song ran 3:57 (from 8:12 to 12:09).

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #15

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1970-02-22
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 2nd edition in the 1970 series: "Canterbury Tales" (a Chaucer spoof)
(1st sketch is "Advert for Radio Prune").

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b005czxy
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jqyp

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2018-08-24 in the latest repeat of the 1970 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2011-07-11

An uncut recording was released on CD in 2007 by BBC Audiobooks Ltd.
Uploaded [by Slimoo?] as mp3 torrent, 256kbps (54.7 MB).

The BBC CDs of "ISIRTA" have horrid amounts of noise reduction. No edits,
but poor audio quality. Radio repeats generally have better audio quality.

# Reason for banning - Unknown.

Possibly because of 5 second mention of Australian singer Rolf Harris in
introduction to the Canterbury Tales sketch (Rolf is mentioned at 12:47).
Rolf has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police (since 2014).

At one point in that sketch, John Cleese does a spoof Indian accent.
The sketch features a lengthy skit about a soap powder that can give
anyone - even Indian bus conductors - a posh upper class accent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #16

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1970-03-01
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 3rd edition in the 1970 series: "The G.P.O."

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012lm9q

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2018-08-24

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 7:53 lasting 2 seconds. This dialogue was deleted:

"Rolf Harris and"

Last uncut repeat: 2016-03-23 (duration 29'39")

An uncut recording was released on CD in 2007 by BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

# Reason for cut -

Rolf Harris has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since June 2014).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #17

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1970-03-15
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 5th edition in the 1970 series: "Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School"

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012xpyk


# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2018-09-07

Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

1st cut at 4:45, lasting 8 seconds (4:45 to 4:53).

The following words were deleted (a sex-change joke):

"Mr Rolf Harris has been made a Dame of the British Empire.
A hospital spokesman said his condition was satisfactory."

Last uncut repeat (uncut episode has duration of 28'53"):

2011-08-01 (definitely), 2013-12-18 (possibly)

Reason for cut -

Rolf Harris has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since June 2014).


# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-10-14

Description of cuts (with length, starting point) -

An extra 1 minute 35 seconds cut since the 2018 repeat.


2nd cut at 12:49, lasting 24 seconds. These lines were deleted:

Bill Oddie: "And can we have tonight's author please."
Jo Kendall: "Certainly, Annona. And tonight's author is Colonel
Coonstrangler, OBE, MCC, 150 All Out, who has just returned
from spending six years living with African gibbons. And
his play is called '[Gibbon noises]' [Audience laughter],
or 'Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School'."
Bill Oddie: "Oh dear."


3rd cut at 14:16, lasting 59 seconds. These lines were deleted:

David Hatch : "Cherry and Wharton were jolly fed up with being kept
waiting, and in the corner was another fellow who was
browned off."
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "Oh my goodness, a browned-off [drowned by
audience laughter]."
David Hatch : "This was their tinted chum, Harry Ramsit Jam Butty."
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "Oh gawd blimey, where is the esteemed and
gimlet-eyed Squelch?"
Bill Oddie : "Hang on, hang on. Now then, Mr Clever Dick so-called
Harry Ramsit Jam Roll, I have reason to believe you are
impersonating a tinted person."
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "You what, what?"
Bill Oddie : "I must ask you, are you written by Johnny Speight?"
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "No, I'm not."
Bill Oddie : "Oh! Oh! Oh well, in that case I'm arresting you. You are
an incitement to racial prejudice, and in very bad taste."
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "No, no, but I'm a real tinted person."
Bill Oddie : "Oh! Oh ho! A real one. With a speaking part in a comedy
series?"
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "Yes! Yes!"
Bill Oddie : "Oh. Oh well in that case, please accept this O.B.E."
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "Thank you very much."
David Hatch : "Harry Ramsit Jam and Bread accepted the valuable award,
and began to file it down to a ten-shilling piece."


4th cut at 16:27, lasting 5 seconds. These lines were deleted:

David Hatch : "Harry Ramsit Jamboree O.B.E.?"
Graeme Garden: [With accent] "Here, prolific terrific sir."
David Hatch : "Billy [Bunter]...?"


5th cut at 19:59, lasting 6 seconds. These lines were deleted (poof joke):

Graeme Garden : "Two and a half."
Jo Kendall : "And some puff-pastry."
Tim Brooke-Taylor: [effeminate voice] "Mmmm, yes."


# Last uncut repeat (uncut episode has duration of 28'53"):

2011-08-01 (definitely), 2013-12-18 (possibly). But even
the 2018 repeat is more complete than the 2021 repeat.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #18

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1970-03-22
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 6th edition in the 1970 series: "Murder on the 3.17 to Cleethorpes"

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01321dr

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2018-09-14

# Description of cuts, with length, starting point -

1. Cut at 3:16 (3:16 to 6:10). Length of cut 2:54
Sketch deleted: "Rolf Harris dirty songbook"

A musical sketch about comic and singer Rolf Harris, spoofing
some of his best known comic songs, is cut from this repeat.

2. A 2nd cut at 6:29, lasting 2 seconds. Deletes the words
"50 naked negros".

Last uncut repeat: (believed to be) 2014-01-08

An uncut recording was released on CD in 2007 by BBC Audiobooks Ltd,
where the uncut episode has a duration of 29'25".

# Reason for Rolf Harris cut -

Rolf has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since June 2014).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #19

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1970-04-26
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 11th edition in the 1970 series: "20,000 Leaks Under the Sea"

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00h38dy

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2018-10-19

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 4:46 lasting 33 seconds. These lines were cut -

Tim Brooke Taylor: "'Top of the Pops': Scandle after the latest edition
of BBC TV's 'Top of the Pops', when a missing tv
camera was found wandering about, lost, up a girl's
miniskirt. (Audience laughter) [Indistinct] was
charged with indecent assault. A BBC spokesman
added:"

John Cleese : (Spokesman) "We have noticed that it is possible to
see right up to the girls knickers, owing to the
shortness of their miniskirts, so we've asked the
girls to drop them." (Audience laughter)

Bill Oddie : "Also on a recent 'Top of the Pops', Tony Blackburn
presented a prize for the dolliest dresser - to
himself!"

Last definitely uncut repeat: 2011-09-12

# Reason for cut -

Unknown. Apparently Tony Blackburn is to be the latest victim of
political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #20

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1970-05-03
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 12th edition in the 1970 series: "Oedipus Rex" / "Greek Tragedy"

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00h8kxm

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2018-10-26

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 2:46 lasting 11 seconds. This line was cut :

Jo Kendall: "Then there's the special holiday edition of The Rolf
Harris Show. And there's a surprise treat in this show:
Rolf Harris will be away on holiday." (Audience laughter)

Last uncut repeat: (believed to be) 2014-02-12

# Reason for Rolf Harris cut -

Rolf has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since June 2014).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #21

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1970-05-10
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 13th edition in the 1970 series: "Raymond Nostril Story"

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hg824

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2018-11-02

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 23:14 lasting 6 seconds.

In a joke about exploding LP's, this line was cut :

David Hatch: "...and barricaded the doors with Rolf Harris records
(Audience laughter), which will go off if anyone
touches them."

Last uncut repeat: 2014-02-19

# Reason for Rolf Harris cut -

Rolf has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since June 2014).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #22

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1973-12-02
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 5th edition of the 1973 series: "Song Of The South"

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2018-12-07 in the latest repeat of the 1973 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: A date unknown before 2010, on BBC7.

Available on: .torrent (Uploader: Slimoo)

# Further information -

The sketches include:

Miss United Prune Finals / Scriptwriter Fired / Radio Prune Festival
of Light: Clean It Up Yourself Quiz / Censored Music / Motoring News /
Stars on Monday / Modern Toy Symphony by Haydn / The Song of the South

The BBC usually pretend this is a lost (wiped) episode.

# Reason for banning -

Possibly because the closing sketch spoofs Disney's 1946 movie musical,
"Song of the South".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #23

# Title of programme -

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - 1973-12-09
Sketch Comedy, starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor, Bill Oddie.

The 6th edition of the 1973 series: "Oklahoma"

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2018-12-14 in the latest repeat of the 1973 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: A date unknown before 2010, on BBC7.

Available on: .torrent (Uploader: Slimoo)

# Further information -

The sketches include:

By-Election Results / New Programmes: Phone-In / Female Newsreader /
Bronte Sisters / London Symphony Orchestra / Phone Call /
Nixon Tape / The Ten Commandments / Nappy Love / Oklahoma!

The BBC usually pretend this is a lost (wiped) episode.

# Reason for banning -

Unknown. Perhaps because the closing sketch spoofs the 1955 Hollywood
movie musical, "Oklahoma!" ?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #24

# Title of programme -

Not in Front of the Children - s02e08 - No Man at the Helm

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08htpmg

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-09-19

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 8:12 lasting 2 seconds.

Discussing the children's toys, this line was cut :

Wendy Craig: "... and legless golliwogs."

Last uncut repeat: 2019-03-27

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #25

# Title of programme -

Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead - 1972-07-09
Sketch Comedy, starring Ronnie Barker.

The 1st programme of the Second series (1972 Series).

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008kmkg

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-01-01

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 3:05, lasting 1 second. Deletes the word "n*gger" from the
reading of a list of entries under 'N' in the Oxford English dictionary.

Runs 1 second short, compared to the uncut release on the BBC CD
("Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead", 2 CD Set, CD 2 Side B).

Last uncut radio repeat: A date unknown before 2010, on BBC7.

# Reason for cut -

BBC's left-wing bias. The Oxford English Dictionary is apparently now
deemed politically incorrect.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #26

# Title of programme -

Steptoe and Son - s03e04 1971-04-11 - TB or Not TB
Situation Comedy, starring Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H Corbett

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jlnf

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-04-19

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 23:13, lasting 1 second.

Albert (Wilfrid Brambell) is unsympathetic when Harold thinks he's caught
tuberculosis (TB). The cut deletes the word "poofy" in this line:

Wilfrid Brambell: "You're carrying on like some poofy Victorian poet."

Last uncut repeat: 2019-05-17

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #27

# Title of programme -

Steptoe and Son - s03e05 - Without Prejudice
Situation Comedy, starring Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H Corbett

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jlqh

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-04-26

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 4:59, lasting 1 second.

Harold (Harry H Corbett) is discussing selling some antique furniture,
to raise money. The cut deletes the word "poofy" in this line:

Harry H Corbett: "We're not far from the BBC here, we could unload it
onto some of them poofy producers up there."

Last uncut repeat: 2019-04-05

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #28

# Title of programme -

Steptoe and Son - s05e04 1974-06-16 - A Winter's Tale
Situation Comedy, starring Harry H Corbett, Wilfrid Brambell.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jn7v

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-08-02

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 13:22 lasting 7 seconds.

Arguing about holidaying abroad, Harold (Harry H Corbett) complains he
can't date sun-tanned women in England in February. These lines were cut -

Wilfrid Brambell: "There's plenty round here. We're the only white
family down the street!" (Audience laughter)
Harry H Corbett : "I'm going, so you might as well get used to it..."

Last uncut repeat: 2019-09-06

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #29

# Title of programme -

The Navy Lark - s12e07 1971-06-27 - "Sir Willoughby at Shanghai"
Situation Comedy, starring Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee, Stephen Murray.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018jrgq

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2020-12-04 in the latest repeat of the 1971 series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2017-01-11

The episode has been released by BBC Worldwide on a BBC Radio Collection
cassette ["Navy Lark" Vol.4 Shanghai Surprise] (in 1992, 1996 and 2000),
and on CD.

# Reason for banning -

Unknown. Possibly because part of the episode is set in China.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #30

# Title of programme -

Lines From My Grandfather Christmas's Forehead - 1971-12-24
Sketch Comedy, starring Ronnie Barker.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jqqy

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-12-19 in Part 1 of "Barry Cryer's Christmas Selection Box",
a 3 hour special for Christmas.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 2:27:19 lasting 80 seconds.

Last uncut repeat: 2003-12-20 on BBC7.

Subsequent repeats omit the final sketch, "A Child's Christmas in Wales"
(which spoofs a poem by Dylan Thomas).

# Further information -

In the 2003-12-20 repeat, the Dylan Thomas sketch runs from 22:06 to
23:26 (1 minute 20 seconds), and the complete programme runs 24:38.

In "Barry Cryer's Christmas Selection Box", the 1971 show is cut
at 2:27:19 removing 80 seconds (reducing the 1971 show to 23:17).

# Reason for cut -

Allegedly, due to a copyright dispute between the BBC and Dylan Thomas's
estate. The estate objected to the sketch quoting a short passage from a
very long poem written by Dylan Thomas.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #31

# Title of programme -

Lines From My Grandfather Christmas's Forehead - 1971-12-24
Sketch Comedy, starring Ronnie Barker

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jzvz
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ckpy

# Dates of broadcast -
2010-12-18, 2013-12-21, 2016-12-17, 2019-12-25 as part of the
3 hour special "Sue Perkins Christmas Comedy Stocking", Part 1.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Same cut as in the repeats of this programme in the Christmas Special
"Barry Cryer's Christmas Selection Box", detailed in the previous item.

A cut lasting 80 seconds. The sketch "A Child's Christmas In Wales",
spoofing a poem by Dylan Thomas, is entirely removed; reducing
"Lines From My Grandfather Christmas's Forehead" to 23:17.

# Reason for cut -

Allegedly, due to a dispute between the BBC and Dylan Thomas's estate.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #32

# Title of programme -

Frankie Howerd Show - 1973-06-17 - "At The Races"
Sketch Comedy, starring Frankie Howerd.

The 2nd programme of the 1973 Series

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jmtr

# Date of Repeat broadcasts -
2015-10-11 and 2020-04-02

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 12:48 lasting 5 seconds.

Tobruk, 1943; Trade Unions in the Army (sketch). Frankie is the Union's
shop steward, who complains about having to fight the Gurkhas:

Frankie: "The lads sir, they won't be fighting with the Gurkhas,
they're non-union."
Officer: "Non-union?"
Frankie: "Blacklegs!" (Audience laughter) <-- This line was cut.

Last uncut repeat: A date unknown prior to 2010

This episode was released uncut by BBC Enterprises Ltd on cassette,
on the "BBC Radio Collection" label, titled "The Frankie Howerd Show",
in 1992 (ZBBC 1398) (2 cassette box set).

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #33

# Title of programme -

Howerd's Ways - 2012-04-28 - The Radio Times of Frankie Howerd.
Sketch Comedy, starring Frankie Howerd. 3 hour special.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gvvy2

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2012-04-28

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

1 cut: This compilation includes "The Frankie Howerd Show" of 1973-06-17,
with the same cut as in the repeat of it in the previous item (above):

"Blacklegs" joke cut, in Trade Union sketch. The cut occurs at 16:37
in this 3 Hour special (5 sec removed, including audience laughter).

Note: When this 3 hour special was repeated, in 2020, it had additional
cuts. See next item, below.

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #34

# Title of programme -

Howerd's Ways - 2012-04-28 - The Radio Times of Frankie Howerd
Sketch Comedy, starring Frankie Howerd. 3 hour special.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gvvy2

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-02-15

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

2 cuts. The original broadcast of this 3 hour tribute, in 2012, had
only one cut (to the broadcast of 1973-06-17) - see previous item.

#1: This compilation includes "The Frankie Howerd Show" of 1973-06-17,
with the same cut as in the repeat of that episode on 2015-10-11
("Blacklegs" joke cut, in Trade Union sketch).

The cut occurs at 16:37 in this 3 Hour compilation (5 seconds
removed, including audience laughter).

#2: An additional 19 seconds is cut in the 2020 rpt, from a 1965 episode
of "Now Listen" (half-hour sketch show: Gags from Frankie Howerd,
plus sketches with Carol Allen, Robertson Hare and Ken Connor),
from Light Programme, April 1965.

The cut occurs at 1:47:07 in this 3 Hour compilation (19 seconds
removed). Removes references to BBC radio disk jockey, the late
Jimmy Savile.

The following dialogue is cut, in a sketch in which BBC tv are
considering Frankie for a vacant job as a Disk Jockey (present
in the broadcast of 2012-04-28 from 1:47:08 to 1:47:27):

Frankie Howerd: "After all, you know, I make a change from David
Jacobs, and I'm prettier than Jimmy Savile. Have
you seen him, Jimmy Savile? Have you seen him
lately? Gilt casuals, gold lame braces, and a
foam-backed vest. Not that I'm decrying the man.
Oh no, far from it. I mean, to each his own... if
you like that sort of gear."

Last uncut repeat: Cut #2 is not present in the rpt of 2012-04-28

# Reason for cut -

Jimmy Savile is now deemed a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since October 2012).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #35

# Title of programme -

Dad's Army - 1974-12-24 - Present Arms : 1974 Christmas Special (60 min)
Situation Comedy, starring Arthur Lowe.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jqrv (Dead link)

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2020-12-20

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A joke at 33:19 lasting 16 seconds, during a scene at the local
Hippodrome theatre, resulted in the programme being banned.

The episode was broadcast, but was removed from BBC iPlayer after a
few days. The station was marked "off air" for that hour, to prevent
playing or accessing the episode.

# Reason for banning -

Contains one joke about a chink in the blackout. A double-entendre
originally: perhaps a reference to showing a chink of light in the
blackout, or perhaps a reference to a Chinaman.

Last uncut repeat: 2020-12-20 (Recordings of the live broadcast,
or live stream, only)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #36

# Title of programme -

Dad's Army - s01e02 1974-02-04 - Museum Piece
Situation Comedy, starring Arthur Lowe.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jrv9

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-03-19

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 22:22 lasting 2 seconds. This line was cut:

Corporal Jones: "Yellow fiends!"

Last uncut repeat: 2019-03-11

# Reason for cut -

Clive Dunn's reference to the brutal Chinese, in the 1899 Boxer Rebellion,
as 'yellow fiends'. The cut is biased, since a reference to 'black fiends'
would presumably not have been cut, as references to 'black' are not cut.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #37

# Title of programme -

The Michael Bentine Show - s01e02 1984-01-29
Sketch Comedy, starring Michael Bentine.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jf4br

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2019-03-01 in the latest repeat of the series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2013-05-24

# Reason for banning -

Possibly because it includes a sketch featuring an Indian shopkeeper
in Birmingham.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #38

# Title of programme -

Beachcomber By the Way - s01e01 - 1989-03-18
Sketch Comedy, starring Richard Ingrams and Patricia Routledge.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0080jmp

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-02-10

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 4:24 lasting 4 seconds. This line was cut:

Patricia Routledge: "Fuzzie-wuzzies!"

(Presumably the same fuzzie wuzzies that Corporal Jones routinely
mentions in "Dad's Army")

Last uncut repeat: 2019-02-26

# Reason for cut -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #39

# Title of programme -

Beachcomber By the Way - s01e03 - 1989-04-01
Sketch Comedy, starring Richard Ingrams and Patricia Routledge.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0081s34

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-02-24

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 2:07 lasting 3 seconds. Cut is a reference to Africa! In the
following dialogue, Richard Ingrams's line is deleted -

Patricia Routledge: "... He is some sort of Attaché."
Richard Ingrams : "Yes, the African sort by the sound of it."

Last uncut repeat: 2019-03-12

# Reason for cut -

This ranks as the most pathetic cut so far encountered. One character
in a sketch mentions the word "African", and the line is cut!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #40

# Title of programme -

Beachcomber By the Way - s03e02 - 1994-11-16

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008p7w7

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2020-06-04 in the latest repeat of the series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2016-03-24

# Reason for banning -

Unknown. Contains a joke about an Indian who owns an elephant (20 sec),
but nothing else which could possibly be politically incorrect.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #41

# Title of programme -

Crowned Hudds - Episode 3 - 1995-08-15 "Fourth Wedding and Some Funerals"
Historical sitcom about the English monarchy, starring Roy Hudd.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00psrfz

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-02-09

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 2:21 lasting 25 seconds.

Removes reference to Australian comic Rolf Harris, even though he isn't
mentioned by name. These lines were cut, where Roy addresses Henry VIII:

Roy Hudd : "Perhaps if you gazed upon a likeness of your future bride?
Master Holbein, the portrait!"
Jon Glover: (Impersonates Rolf) "Heh, heh, heh. Little bit of red here,
little bit of blue." (Chuckles) (Audience laughter) "Just
a splash. Can you see what it is yet?" (Audience laughter)
Roy Hudd : "Excellent work, Master Holbein. A most consummate and
lifelike representation. Especially the way you got the
staple right through her navel -- lovely."

Last uncut repeat: 2012-02-23

# Reason for cut -

Rolf has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since June 2014).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #42

# Title of programme -

Crowned Hudds - Episode 4 - 1995-08-22 : "VR In Charge" / "VR Not Amused"
Historical sitcom about the English monarchy, starring Roy Hudd.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pyrl1

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2021-02-16 in the latest repeat of the series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2016-06-10

# Reason for banning -

Unknown. Episode is part of a historical sitcom; this edition spoofs
Queen Victoria. No obvious reason for banning it.

The title, "VR in Charge", is a joke: it means "Victoria Regina in
Charge". "VR" is meant to sound like someone with a German accent
(Prince Albert?) saying "we are" (in charge). But I doubt that jokes
about Victoria and Albert being German would draw complaints.

Perhaps because the Queen's prime minister, Disraeli, has a Jewish accent?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #43

# Title of programme -

Crowned Hudds - Episode 5 - 1995-08-29 : "A Comedy of Arrows"
Historical sitcom about the English monarchy, starring Roy Hudd.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00q9pdm

Note: Episode title is a (weak) pun on the title of Shakespeare's play,
"A Comedy of Errors".

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2021-02-23 in the latest repeat of the series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2016-06-17

# Reason for banning -

Unknown. Episode is part of a historical sitcom; this edition spoofs
Robin Hood (King John is ambushed). No obvious reason for banning it.

Perhaps because some of Roy Hudd's "Merry Men" are a bit effeminate?
(Might be an attempt to spoof the 1993 movie "Robin Hood: Men in Tights")

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #44

# Title of programme -

The Newly Discovered Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
Episode 2 - 1999-01-23 - "The Mystery of the Obese Escapologist"
Situation Comedy, starring Roy Hudd.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00b2gpj

# Date of Repeat broadcasts -
2019-06-12, 2017-01-11

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 11:30 lasting 12 seconds.

A reference to Australian comedian and singer Rolf Harris is cut.
These lines were removed:

Roy Hudd: "Watson, bring the artificial limb with you."
Chris Emmet: "Why me? I shall feel most conspicuous carrying such
an item."
Roy Hudd: "Then shove it down the front of your coat, and if anyone
asks say you're Rolf Harris. Right? (Audience laughter)
Whoever HE might be!"

Note: The joke was a reference to Rolf's comic song, "I'm Jake the Peg,
with my extra leg", about a man with a wooden leg.

Last uncut repeat: 2011-12-09

# Reason for cut -

Rolf has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police (since 2014).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #45

# Title of programme -

The Newly Discovered Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
Episode 3 - 1999-01-30 - "The Case of the Deranged Botanist"
Situation Comedy, starring Roy Hudd.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00b5pg3

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2019-06-19

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 22:20 lasting 20 seconds.

The cut makes no sense, and is not even a joke.

June Whitfield, as proprietor of an opium den, is asking Roy Hudd
to pay for admission. These five lines are cut:

Roy Hudd: "Never stop thinking about it!"
June Whitfield: "No, plonka."
Roy Hudd: "Plonka???"
June Whitfield: "You have moola, bunce, cash?"
Roy Hudd: "Look, Mrs Woman, could we come in please,
it's bloody freezing out here."

Last uncut repeat: 2017-01-18

# Reason for cut -

Unknown.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #46

# Title of programme -

Like They've Never Been Gone - s04e01 - 2002-06-19
Situation Comedy, starring Roy Hudd.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cfzqy

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
2021-02-23

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 12:51 lasting 3 seconds. A joke about Prince Philip:

Roy Hudd: "Blimey! Agents, eh? Who else gets so much of our money
for sitting on their backsides being rude to people!"
Pat Coombs: "Prince Philip?" <--- This line was cut

Last uncut repeat: 2019-02-13

# Reason for cut - Unknown

This repeat aired while Prince Philip was alive (he died 9 April 2021).
A cut might have been understandable if it aired just after he died, but
it didn't. He was alive and well when the programme aired in February.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #47

# Title of programme -

DI Cromwell: Jagged Prayer - Episode 3 - 2000-03-31
Situation Comedy, starring Timothy Spall. Spoof detective series.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00c3k87

# Date of Repeat broadcast -
Should have aired on 2020-10-01 in the latest repeat of the series.

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

Episode banned. Last repeat: 2016-04-21

# Reason for banning -

Presumed due to BBC bias, i.e. political correctness.

Possibly because the episode (entitled "Sister, Brother") contains jokes
about transvestites and gender-benders, as part of the detective's
investigation. (But this is a comedy: the script sends-up the police,
the suspects -- everybody!)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM #48

# Title of programme -

Absolute Power - s04e02 - 2004-02-12
Situation Comedy, starring Stephen Fry and John Bird

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018tsh9

# Date of Repeat broadcasts -
2018-12-05 and 2021-08-19

# Description of cut (with length, starting point) -

A cut at 25:32 lasting 3 seconds.

One character tried to show he was not drunk, by reciting the complicated
lyrics to a song popularised by comedian Rolf Harris. This line was cut:

Stephen Fry: "So either you're Rolf Harris or you're legless."

Last uncut repeat: 2012-01-04

# Reason for cut -

Rolf Harris has been declared a 'non-person' by the thought police
(since 2014).

=============================================================================

[RWels]

This is very useful information to have when you need the details. So what is the difference between bans and cuts? These used to have cuts, but they are skipped now completely? Ha, perhaps they read the previous thread.


But as before, I wish it was just worded neutral, and not pepppered with stuff like "oh even a fictional accent will alert the thought police". This is speculation, and also, it will only lead, AGAIN, to the recurring discussion.

Repeats with cuts seem like an acceptable compromise to me. Whatever the BBC (or others) do, there'll always be someone not happy about the way they handled it. Yes, SOMETIMES social justice warriors will go much too far and miss the point; but on the other side of the spectrum, the statlers and waldorfs* will insist that it's 1984 all over again and the police will soon come and search door to door and take the banned DVDs from your shelf (never mind that some complaints aren't new at all).

* Statler and Waldorf are the two oldtimers on the muppet show.

[richardwoods]

But Spiny, you’ve just started the discussion again yourself, I think I’ll get my coat 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[RWels]

Aug 8, 2021 14:48:36 GMT richardwoods said:

But Spiny, you’ve just started the discussion again yourself, I think I’ll get my coat 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Exactly. The sooner it starts, the sooner it's over.

[richardwoods]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Ed Brown]

I've updated the list of radio episodes currently banned or censored by the BBC, at the top of this thread.

The original list I was given, dated 8th August 2021, contained 38 items. The latest list now contains 48 items. The list is updated as at 21st November.

[mattchurchett]

A very interesting read, thanks for sharing the list.

[garygraham]

In 1993 the BBC was showing edited versions of The Good Life. In the case of "The Windbreak War" they had edited out the latter part of the scene in the drawing room with Mr Bailey. 38 seconds cut. As a result he got the last word rather than Margo Leadbetter.

A friend wrote to the BBC about it and was told it might be "for timing purposes." Considering that this scene was constantly rolled out as one of the most brilliant examples of BBC comedy it seemed quite potty.

Unfortunately now it's very easy for some minor member of staff to chop up programmes. No expensive edit suite needs to be booked. The worry is always that there might be a mix up, an edited tape might become the master and the complete version be lost.

[Stephen Byers]

Barry Cryer did a special series of 6 comedy episodes describing why certain edits / cuts were made to appease overseas audiences. Then there are cuts made due to having to reduce the playing time of programmes so that they fitted onto  12 in. LPs aka transcription discs (T'Discs) - the cuts were to make room for adverts on overseas commercial radio stations. For a normal 30 min. broadcast programme the T'Discs could only hold on average 25 mins.

It is even worse now with video programmes because many commercial stations want to have at least 15 mins of adverts per 60 minute programme. London Live is the worst for making cuts in nominally one hour programmes. In the recent series 'All You Need Is Love' by Tony Palmer they actually removed 15 mins of actual content per episode. More complete episodes could be obtained from DVDs or YouTube. I wonder how Talking Pictures handle edits to make room for commercials?

[Stephen Byers]

Isn't the head of Radio 4 / Extra a 'foreigner'? Can't expect any foreigners to appreciative the subtleties of Brit. comedy and humour.

[RWels]

Dec 13, 2021 12:17:50 GMT Stephen Byers said:

Isn't the head of Radio 4 / Extra a 'foreigner'? Can't expect any foreigners to appreciative the subtleties of Brit. comedy and humour.

Exactly, I'm a foreigner (to the UK), and if I'm honest (as far as that's possible for a foreigner), I'm completely lost half the time.

I'm sure my constant state of confusion would be far less acute if only I were Engl... I mean British.
For example, the understatement, what is that all about? How is irony different from gold-y or bronze-y?
It's bewildering and frankly a bit too much for simple minded continental folk.


By the way, do you know "How to be an alien" by George Mikes?

[John Green]

I know you meant the book, but TVBrain has:

HOW TO BE AN ALIEN
12.02.1964 Lithuanians and Letts Do It... (missing)
19.02.1964 Foreigners Do It Differently, Longer and More Often (missing)
04.03.1964 No Man Who Hates Children and Animals Can Be Wholly Bad.... (missing)
11.03.1964 Bring Back the Sixty Hour Week (missing)
25.03.1964 The More We Are Together the Drearier We Shall Be (missing)
01.04.1964 The Same to You Without Knobs On (missing).

while IMDB has:

Eating 12/2/1964.
Children. 19/2/1964.
Leisure. 26/2/1964.
Togetherness. 4/3/1964.
Design. 11/3/1964.
Courtship. 18/3/1964.

[RWels]

Dec 13, 2021 16:49:34 GMT John Green said:

I know you meant the book, but TVBrain has:

HOW TO BE AN ALIEN
12.02.1964 Lithuanians and Letts Do It... (missing)
19.02.1964 Foreigners Do It Differently, Longer and More Often (missing)
04.03.1964 No Man Who Hates Children and Animals Can Be Wholly Bad.... (missing)
11.03.1964 Bring Back the Sixty Hour Week (missing)
25.03.1964 The More We Are Together the Drearier We Shall Be (missing)
01.04.1964 The Same to You Without Knobs On (missing).

while IMDB has:

Eating 12/2/1964.
Children. 19/2/1964.
Leisure. 26/2/1964.
Togetherness. 4/3/1964.
Design. 11/3/1964.
Courtship. 18/3/1964.

I once noticed it after reading the book. All gone though; what can we do!
Hmm, those episode titles almost start to look a bit like The Frost Report's episodes; they were similarly themed.

A THIRD version can be found here: obversebooks.co.uk/missingepisodes/howalien.htm

[John Green]

If I've matched the themes from the first two lists, they seem to differ on the episode-orders.

[John Green]

And

GEORGE MIKES' EVENING CLASSES
Manners (missing)
FARSON'S GUIDE TO THE BRITISH
31.03.1960 George Mikes's Guide to Farson's Guide to the British (missing)

too.