Ofcom urged to consider exemption from outdated language rules for ‘classic comedy’

Classic comedies such as Carry on Laughing should be exempt from ‘suffocating’ Ofcom rules

UK media regulator Ofcom has been urged by free-to-air channel Rewind TV to treat classic TV comedies from the 1970s like vintage cars and exempt them from “suffocating” broadcast rules around outdated language.

Classic 70s comedies such as On The Buses, Don’t Drink The Water and The Benny Hill Show should get a ‘classic comedy’ exemption from its regulations around outdated language, according to campaigners led by Rewind TV.

⁠Such shows should be treated like old cars that are over 40 years old, which are exempt from many regulations in the UK because of their cultural significance, the campaigners added.

Rewind TV, which launched last year, specialises in airing vintage UK and US television series and programmes, including Please Sir! and Don’t Drink The Water.

Jonathan Moore, co-founder at Rewind TV, said: “The changing nature of language makes it very difficult for regulators such as Ofcom to keep up with current opinions on what is deemed more or less acceptable, and that can lead to some very strange guidelines.

“For example, while Ofcom’s current list of controversial words describes ‘mincing’ and ‘Boomer’ as being ‘medium’ language – carrying a significant risk of offence – it also considers ‘bitch’ and ‘gay’ to be non-offensive.

“That means we are much more likely to get in trouble for including ‘mincing Boomer’ in a show than ‘gay bitch’ – and that doesn’t feel right.”

Moore is calling for Ofcom to introduce a ‘classic comedy’ exemption for shows that are more than 40 years old.

That would allow broadcasters to show shows largely uncut, with only the most offensive content removed.

He said: “Classic cars are exempt from road tax and MoT rules when they reach 40 because they are seen to be part of the nation’s history, and their preservation has cultural and historical significance. They also appeal to a niche audience, who understand and appreciate them as being from a different time.

“In much the same way, classic comedy is certainly part of the nation’s history, providing an insight to societal changes as well as a window on a world long passed. Even more recent shows such as Drop the Dead Donkey and Whose Line Is It Anyway? are generally appreciated by an older audience, who understand the context in which they were recorded.”

Ofcom’s present guidelines date from 2021 and Moore said the regulator faces a difficult task keeping up with changing language use.

Moore added: “Ofcom highlights the importance of ‘context’ when it comes to including controversial material in a broadcast, and that’s a very sensible approach.

“We believe that shows more than 40 years old should be broadcast largely uncut – of course, we retain the right to edit content we consider particularly inappropriate – with a message explaining clearly that content that was deemed acceptable back then may not be acceptable now. Years of cuts can suffocate a show and that’s something we want to avoid.

“Broadcasters already pepper their shows with trigger warnings; this isn’t a new idea. But granting a ‘classic comedy’ exemption by default would help protect iconic shows from extinction – and losing these shows would be like losing a huge library of social commentary and changing attitudes.”

Meanwhile, Ofcom is continuing its attempts to deal with issues around online safety and children, with “transformational new protections” announced by the watchdog today.