Little Britain: Matt Lucas and David Walliams apologise for using blackface make-up in sketches

They're back: Matt Lucas and David Walliams are reviving Little Britain for one episode only (Picture: Getty Images)

Matt Lucas and David Walliams have apologised for using blackface make-up during some sketches in Little Britain.

The show was recently removed from streaming services including BBC iPlayer because “times have changed” since the comedy first aired.

In recent weeks, the series has faced renewed criticism for the use of blackface in some sketches.

It comes after Black Lives Matter protests have taken place around the world following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd after a police officer knelt on his neck in the US.

Both Lucas and Walliams shared statements on their respective Twitter accounts, with Walliams writing: “Matt & I have both spoken publicly in recent years of our regret that we played characters of other races.

“Once again we want to make it clear that it was wrong & we are very sorry.”

Matt & I have both spoken publicly in recent years of our regret that we played characters of other races. Once again we want to make it clear that it was wrong & we are very sorry.

— David Walliams (@davidwalliams)

June 13, 2020

In 2017, Lucas admitted that he would do things differently if he were making the show again.

“If I could go back and do Little Britain again, I wouldn’t make those jokes about transvestites," he said. "I wouldn’t play black characters.

David and I have both spoken publicly in recent years of our regret that we played characters of other races. Once again we want to make it clear that it was wrong and we are very sorry.

— realmattlucas (@RealMattLucas)

June 13, 2020

“Basically, I wouldn’t make that show now. It would upset people. We made a more cruel kind of comedy than I’d do now.

“Society has moved on a lot since then and my own views have evolved."

Walliams echoed his comments in 2018, telling Radio Times: "You’d make any comedy differently [now]. We started working on Little Britain nearly 20 years ago, because it was on radio first.

The show has been removed from streaming platforms (HBO)

“It’s hard to say specifically how it would be different. There’s all kinds of tolerances that change. People understand people’s predicaments more now. Maybe it’s, ‘We see this differently, we’ve got more information,’ and it would be a different type of joke.”

Little Britain has also been criticised for its portrayal of black women by white men.

A BBC spokesman said: “There’s a lot of historical programming available on BBC iPlayer which we regularly review.

"Times have changed since Little Britain first aired, so it is not currently available on BBC iPlayer.”

A BritBox spokeswoman also confirmed the show has been removed from that platform too.

Netflix also removed the show, as well as Walliams and Lucas’s other series Come Fly With Me.