Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Laura Harding & Sophie McCoid

Little Britain taken off iPlayer Netflix and BritBox after blackface criticism

Little Britain has been taken off BBC iPlayer because "times have changed" since the comedy first aired, the BBC said.

The series, starring David Walliams and Matt Lucas, has come under fire recently because of the use of blackface in some of the sketches.

In Little Britain, Walliams blacked up in a fat suit to play the outrageous socialite Desiree de Vere, and Matt Walliams played Thai bride Ting Tong.

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.

Last week, comedian Leigh Francis, also known as Keith Lemon, issued a tearful apology for portraying black celebrities on sketch show Bo' Selecta.

The comic played stars including king of pop Michael Jackson, singer Craig David and talkshow host Trisha Goddard on the show, which first aired in 2002.

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."

The BBC aired a special edition of the show in October last year, with the show also forming part of the Big Night In, broadcast in April 2020.

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

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

Earlier this year, the pair revisited Little Britain for BBC One's Big Night In charity programme, reprising their roles as a number of the show's famous characters including Lou and Andy, Daffyd, Marjorie Dawes and Sebastian while wearing makeshift costumes.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.