Sofa so good: ‘Derry Girls’ continues to wrings laughs from the Troubles (Cha
(Picture: Channel 4)Plans for UK public service broadcasters to create more shows that showcase “Britishness” have been widely mocked after ministers cited Derry Girls as an example of a show that would meet that obligation.
Media minister John Whittingdale reportedly told a Royal Television Society conference: “I intend to include proposals that will expand the remit of public service broadcasters so that it includes a requirement for them to produce ‘distinctively British’ content.”
Whittingdale added that the term “Britishness” was “a difficult concept to measure”, adding “we will talk to Ofcom about how to make the obligation of Britishness work”, according to the i.
Ofcom is said to be drawing up a workable definition of what is being asked for, but other examples that were given included Only Fools and Horses, Fleabag, Downton Abbey, The Great British Bake Off, Blackadder, Doctor Who and the Carry On films.
However, the inclusion of Derry Girls, a sitcom set in 1990s Northern Ireland at the tail end of ‘The Troubles’, raised some eyebrows as many of the jokes in the show are at the expense of the English. Furthermore, Northern Ireland is part of the UK but not Great Britain.
Many have been quick to point out how bizarre and how much of a self-own the inclusion of Derry Girls in this list was.
Lol they use Derry Girls as an example of Britishness. I'm all for shows based in the home nations where they slag off the English. https://t.co/35GuEnFAGp
— Cobbler Bob (@Bob0Mar) September 16, 2021
Derry Girls is distinctly British? If that were the case, would it not be called Londonderry Girls? https://t.co/XqTDQf7Vbt
— Shane Caher (@CaherShane) September 16, 2021
Derry Girls is <distinctively British>
— Gordon Guthrie (@gordonguthrie) September 15, 2021
Um, well, um, eh... https://t.co/ZfiBX0IlTx
The principle of this is horrible, but the fact that he picked Derry Girls as an example is sending me. https://t.co/sKV4M9T6Rn
— hayley (@hayleylouisePhD) September 16, 2021
derry girls is a distinctly irish show, the brits trying to claim it as their own really show how clueless they are. its not called "londonderry girls" now is it?? 🤔🤔 https://t.co/8cnAShzL4m
— void (@iiVoid) September 16, 2021
“Distinctively British programmes” like Derry Girls. I wonder if anyone in the room thought about that sentence *at all*? https://t.co/i2cNh8M4lF
— Lorna (@florilegia) September 16, 2021
aside from the fact that this is literally a step closer to fascism- derry girls? a good example of britishness? https://t.co/56g0egeSQU
— mirren (@fitzgrantIII) September 16, 2021
Ah yes that distinctly Brit loving comedy Derry Girls. https://t.co/Es7Z3OFKF2
— Bimbo Summit Ambassador Gowans (@tootsdeville) September 16, 2021
if Derry Girls is "distinctively British" then it would be called Londonderry Girls, and that just ain't it tbh https://t.co/k3u8M2c6jt
— adam 🌹 (@adamwhite_01) September 16, 2021
Derry Girls distinctively British ?
— Timor O’Seery (@seery_o) September 16, 2021
Where do you get that from ? https://t.co/P99QnxU6rW pic.twitter.com/MupVa88zdO
I for one love the "britishness" of Derry Girls pic.twitter.com/X3g3wPdOKA
— Natalie Mirosch (@NatalieMirosch) September 16, 2021
Also, the vague word “Britishness” has prompted much ridicule as no one seems to know what it means.
When they say “Britishness” they mean Englishness.
— Oscar Allen (@oscardebird) September 16, 2021
Note from DCMS: Due to our Obligatory Britishness Quota all scripts must include three of the following:
— Lisa Holdsworth (@WorksWithWords) September 16, 2021
1. A London bus.
2. A working class person whistling cheerily.
3. A polite child.
4. Casual racism.
5. Fish and/or chips.
6. A misplaced sense of cultural superiority. https://t.co/mYAZpofg5N
Watch the viewing figures for terrestrial TV in the UK plummet. What is this Britishness they talk of? 🇬🇧 Plastered over all TV programmes. No thanks https://t.co/qJasSGlY9r
— #FBIW Welsh Rugby Mad dragon 🐲 (@wru4me) September 16, 2021
Time and time again this government have managed to hit that real sweet spot between sinister and exceptionally stupid. Maybe that’s what “Britishness” means?? https://t.co/4JOEctzTnC
— Paranoid Andy Edwards (@eds209) September 16, 2021
Personally, I like the 'Britishness' of irreverent TV which takes the piss out of incompetent authoritarian anti-democratic governments & our preposterously manipulative news media. Others prefer fawning costume dramas designed to ensure subservience to antiquated institutions. pic.twitter.com/BdoHaqQjTO
— GET A GRIP (@docrussjackson) September 16, 2021
Layers and layers of absolute WTF here pic.twitter.com/MRDsOjoOlb
— Paul Duane (@paulduanefilm) September 16, 2021
According to reports, Derry Girls “very clearly” met the criteria that culture ministers were seeking because it is “very clearly set in Northern Ireland at a particularly challenging time.” The agenda defines “Britishness” as “reflecting all parts of the UK.”
The speech was originally set to be delivered by former culture secretary Oliver Dowden before he was replaced by Nadine Dorries as part of Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle.
