To celebrate the 20th anniversary of That Mitchell and Webb Look, the BBC has released the series on iPlayer with 11 sketches removed. The broadcaster's decision to cut content over concerns regarding racism has sparked accusations of censorship from industry figures.
The 11 sketches scrubbed from the 20th anniversary lineup
The missing content includes several controversial segments that were part of the original run between 2006 and 2010. Among the most notable omissions is a sketch featuring David Mitchell and Robert Webb as English Civil War re-enactors who, in a search for entertainment, use blackface to recreate a battle in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The report also notes the removal of a scene involving a "tribe" living in a garden centre and a segment featuring a contestant in a burqa during a makeover show.
Dom Joly's charge of "hysterical censorship"
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the comedy community, most notably from Trigger Happy TV creator Dom Joly. Speaking to The Times, Joly characterized the BBC's actions as "classic BBC overkill" and "hysterical censorship." He argued that the intent of the sektches was to satirize the concept of racism rather than to encourage it, noting that the Mitchell and Webb sketches were clearly not designed to be genuinely offensive.
A pattern of removals from Little Britain and Come Fly With Me
This move follows a broader trend of the BBC editing its historical archives to align with contemporary sociaal standards. As the report highlights, the broadcaster previously removed Little Britain and Come Fly With Me, which starred Matt Lucas and David Walliams, from its platforms. those decisions were driven by concerns regarding the use of blackface, brownface, and racial stereotyping, with a BBC spokesperson previously stating that "times have changed" since those programs originally aired.
The question of whether Mitchell and Webb were consulted
Despite the BBC's claim that the cuts were made in consultation with "programme makers," several details remain unverified. It is currently unclear if the stars themselves, David Mitchell and Robert Webb, were given the opportunity to weigh in on which segments were removed.. Furthermore,the report does not clarify if the "programme makers" mentioned by the BBC spokesperson refers to the original production team or a separate editorial body. This leaves a significant gap in understanding whether the creators' artistic vision is being actively managed or if the broadcaster is acting unilaterally.
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