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TV, radio, film, Arts

Programmes not for 21st century.

(26 Posts)
NanKate Sun 23-Mar-14 15:11:03

Billy Bunter. Was he referred to as the 'fat owl from the Remove'?

rosequartz Sun 23-Mar-14 15:26:54

Very un-PC! Some of my friends were in the Remove at the boys' school and they seem to have done all right for themselves!

feetlebaum Sun 23-Mar-14 15:39:56

Usually 'the fat owl of the Remove' I think...

Googling, I discover that it it is so called because it marks the transition from Lower (or in some cases Middle) School to Upper School.

NanKate Sun 23-Mar-14 15:45:47

Rosequartz I didn't know what the Remove meant until you told me, so apologies.

Ana Sun 23-Mar-14 15:58:17

confused Isn't it the 'fat' description which is non-PC these days?
Why would 'the Remove' be offensive?

rosequartz Sun 23-Mar-14 17:09:20

Yes Ana, I was just joking! grin
(Or being obtuse)
Perhaps the 'owl' as well - if you wear glasses (like me)

Ana Sun 23-Mar-14 17:13:22

Oh I see - it was NanKate's last which threw me slightly...grin

rosesarered Sun 23-Mar-14 17:39:10

'Oh cripes' squeaked Bunter, as Mr. Quelch fixed him with a gimlet eye!

Deedaa Sun 23-Mar-14 21:55:59

I don't suppose some of the remarks aimed at the Indian boy would go down well now - yet we didn't all grow up to be rabid racists.

NanKate Mon 24-Mar-14 08:44:08

Rosequartz I think I got myself a bit muddled, I thought you were saying I was being very un-pc, when in fact you meant the story.

I have upset people on GN before (unintentionally) so I think I am a bit too quick to apologise if I think I have over-stepped the mark.

All is now clear. Onward and upward.

rosesarered Mon 24-Mar-14 18:30:01

I always thought the Billy Bunter stories were funny, but the Bessie Bunter [his sister] not very good at all. I think there were a lot of stories from the earlier part of the 20th century which wouldn't be approved of [or even understood] nowadays.Even Enid Blyton stories, featuring naughty golliwogs. I was watching an old Ever Decreasing Circles the other day [I love Harold and Hilda] and the story was all about Martin's wife, Anne, who wanted to look for a job because she was bored, and Martin preferring her to stay at home.He said she should spread the housework out and do it slowly to fill her day.That programme was from the 1970's.Or even 1980's?

NanKate Tue 25-Mar-14 07:45:05

I've spread my housework out so far it barely exists now grin Rosequartz.

'It ain't half hot' is another funny show the BBC deem too non pc . I suspect I would find that show a bit dated now.

I still love 'are you being served' especially Mr Humphrys and Mrs Slocombe.

Aka Tue 25-Mar-14 08:43:06

Rising Damp always had me chuckling at Rigsby's non PC racist and chauvinist uttering. A great way of poking fun at such people without taking the moral high ground!

NanKate Tue 25-Mar-14 10:22:36

I agree Aka I too loved Rising Damp especially Miss Jones.

Ana Tue 25-Mar-14 11:15:59

They'd never get away with some of the things Rigsby said to and about the Don Warrington character these days, would they?

rosesarered Tue 25-Mar-14 11:24:59

They certainly wouldn't ana ! Nice to see Don Warrington still going strong, in Murder In Paradise.

MiniMouse Tue 25-Mar-14 11:31:43

Same applies to Alf Garnett, I think. Weren't we laughing at Alf's appalling prejudice as opposed to laughing at what he was saying (if that makes sense!)? What I mean is, that we weren't laughing at the black gentleman that Alf called Marigold, we were laughing at Alf for being so openly prejudiced. Similarly, he used to call Tony Booth a 'Scouse git', but we weren't laughing at or mocking Scousers, but our amusement was aimed at the appalling Alf.

Having said that, I'm not sure the programme would go down very well today!

rosequartz Tue 25-Mar-14 12:48:14

Nankate, I am not in the slightest bit worried if you are non-pc, was just making a daft joke about the Remove and ignoring the obvious fattism - and - spectacles- bit of it!

Is everyone too sensitive these days? Bullying is wrong and should be stamped out but are people imagining a slight at the smallest untoward remark?

Some of the funniest programmes would be considered non-pc these days and I don't necessarily think this is a good thing.
I have a stash of Enid Blyton books in the attic, should I inflict Noddy and the Famous Five etc on my GC? Or would that get me into trouble with the PC brigade if they tell anyone?

rosequartz Tue 25-Mar-14 12:50:46

Grammar, roseq! But you get the gist I hope.
(I don't think this is a good thing).

nigglynellie Tue 25-Mar-14 13:43:42

Crikey, I've got Little Black Mingo stashed away!!!! What with being eaten by crocodiles (the bad lady of course, whose name I can't repeat)
and being rescued from polar bears and other horrors, if anything is un PC these books certainly were; having said that I can't remember, years ago, equating them with any children I knew, anymore than I did with Little Noddy, Bill and Ben, Andy Pandy or the witch in Sleeping Beauty, who was clearly a horrible white lady!

Deedaa Tue 25-Mar-14 20:31:02

I know that It Ain't Half Hot Mum is considered beyond the pale and racist by the BBC but I always thought that the Indian characters in it came over as much more resourceful and intelligent than the British soldiers.

NanKate Tue 25-Mar-14 22:39:38

I seem to remember reading that IAHHM was very popular with Indian viewers, they were not offended in any way.

Eloethan Wed 26-Mar-14 00:41:46

Dixon of Dock Green - "Evenin' all". The friendly bobby on the beat. By the time the series ended, I think Jack Warner must have been well into his seventies.

The Billy Cotton Bandshow - I found it intensely boring even then. and can't imagine what kids would make of it today.

absent Wed 26-Mar-14 00:57:43

Not as ghastly or boring as The Black and White Minstrels.

Eloethan Wed 26-Mar-14 13:20:49

Totally agree absent.