BBC slammed for 'sick' Jimmy Savile joke in Jason Manford comedy 'Scarborough'
The BBC’s new sitcom Scarborough has come under fire already - for featuring a tasteless joke about Jimmy Savile.
Scarborough is the latest sitcom from Benidorm creator Derren Litten, but many viewers failed to see the funny side of a joke about the disgraced late broadcaster who lived in the seaside town.
It was featured in a scene during the opening episode where the BBC One show main character Mike, played by comedian Jason Manford, is talking to his best mate Bigsy (Steve Edge) about his disastrous love life.
Read more: Jason Manford claims Catherine Tyldesley broke ‘Strictly’ secrecy rule
Bigsy says: “Jimmy Savile had the right idea about women. He used to call them brain damaged.”
Mike responds: “Wow, of all the people you could quote on relationship advice, you’re giving me Jimmy Savile!”
Bigsy adds: “Yeah. But it was a crackin’ theme tune though wasn’t it... Jim’ll Fix It?”
It prompted a flurry of complaints on Twitter as people protested that the subject of Savile should still be off limits for jokes.
I can’t believe he just said Jimmy Savile had the right idea about women! Time to change the channel. Who writes this tosh? #Scarborough #BBC
— Jacqueline Evans (@JEvansthewriter) September 6, 2019
Wtf? I just put on Scarborough to see what it was about because people have said it’s supposed to be good and someone on it said ‘jimmy savile had the right idea’ I am so disgusted, wtaf? You do NOT joke about that? It’s not funny it’s disgusting
— Molly💛 - (mollz_2209) (@MollysSuper) September 6, 2019
@DerrenLitten to make reference to Jimmy Savile in #Scarborough is shockingly bad and an embarrassment, seriously you should be ashamed !!
— The Realist (@magichat123) September 6, 2019
The presenter’s crimes came to light after his death in 2011, and the BBC were under scrutiny for some of their staff having been aware of the assaults he committed while working there.
But according to the Daily Star, Litten defended his writing in Friday night’s launch episode, saying: “If we don’t laugh we cry. Not mentioning Savile’s name elevates him to the status of the bogey man.
Read more: Jason Manford caught up in road rage terror
“He has no power to haunt our nightmares, he’s not going to appear in the mirror if we speak his name, he is a dead pervert and good riddance to him.”
A BBC spokesperson added: “The reference made by Bigsy demonstrates how out of touch he is with reality and Mike makes it clear to him that the remark is inappropriate.”
