1909 spy sitcom 'not appropriate' to air

Radio 2 has pulled a new comedy about pre-First-World-War spies in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, Chortle can reveal.

The King's Men features a scene in which a series of explosions are heard throughout London, but which the hapless agents believe to be 'just normal domestic disturbances'.

It had been due to air as part of Radio 2's Comedy Showcase strand at 10pm tonight, but has been pulled from the schedules at the last minute.

A BBC spokeswoman told Chortle: 'The content and tone are not appropriate at this time in the wake of the Paris attacks', adding that the show would air on Radio 2 'at a later date'.

The opening scene of the pilot, set in 1909, features a new spy, played by impressionist Terry Mynott, and his more experienced partner, played by Robert Webb (pictured), being told to be 'on the lookout for anything suspicious'.

Secret service chief Lord Lane, played by Alex MacQueen, tells them: 'You must be alert at all times. This war could start at any moment.'

A series of muffled explosions are heard in the background, with Mynott's character Ernest Ridley, asking: 'Was that it? The war? I thought I heard something war-like…'

But he is told by Lane, and Webb's character Arthur Smyth, that the noises are typical London disturbances such as a gas explosion, or 'a large factory chimney collapsing'.

Following Friday's murderous attacks in Paris, the head of the Met's counter-terrorism command, Commander Richard Walton, said: Communities continue to play a huge part defeating terrorism. They are our eyes and ears. We need them to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to us. My message to the people of London is: If you see or hear something that gives you cause for concern, then please call us straight away. It may seem small to you, but it may be the missing piece of the Jigsaw for us.'

The King's Men was written by Mynott with Father Ted and Toast Of London co-creator Arthur Mathews; and the cast also includes Katy Wix, Ophelia Lovibond, Nick Mohammed and Ellie White.

It may also be that a comedy about bungling spies was not deemed appropriate when possible intelligence failings are being investigated following the Paris attacks.

In the States, NBC dropped a planned live episode of its sitcom Undateable on Friday, following the loss of 129 lives.

Tonight's planned broadcast of The King's Men has been replaced by another in the series of Comedy Showcases, Barbara Nice, which had been due to air tomorrow at 10.30pm.

All the pilots – including The King's Men – are available to hear on the BBC iPlayer.

They are airing on Radio 2 in the run-up to the final of the BBC Radio New Comedy Award, which will be broadcast live from the Comedy Store during Steve Wright In The Afternoon on Friday.

Published: 17 Nov 2015