So say Comedy Central after comics quit panel show over 'interference'

Comedy Central says that Sophie Duker’s routine about Palestine was cut from its all-female panel show because it broke broadcast rules.

The stand-up this week quit Yesterday, Today And The Day Before, citing ‘unacceptable levels of last-minute interference’ from executives.

It prompted fellow comic Kemah Bob, who was to have co-hosted the second episode – to pull out in solidarity.

Now the broadcaster has said they needed to cut Duker's segment to make sure it complied with Ofcom rules.

In a statement, they said:  ‘Comedy Central UK must ensure productions are compliant with broadcast rules. Due to time constraints and the non-compliant nature of the original commentary, part of Sophie’s monologue was adapted to ensure broadcast compliance.  

‘We are proud to support a diverse range of comedians and voices throughout our series, and thank Sophie for her contribution to the launch of the Yesterday, Today and the Day Before.’

Programme-makers Rumpus Media echoed the sentiments.

In their statement, also released last night, they said: ‘ We worked closely with Sophie to try and make her experience on the show a positive one. Despite our best endeavours, due to time constraints and compliance considerations, things didn't run as smoothly as everyone would have hoped. 

‘There have been learnings from this experience, and we have subsequently made changes to the production process for the rest of the series to allow more time for feedback on scripts from a compliance and creative perspective. We continue to work with Sophie on other projects.’

However, Duker said her script had previously been OKed by programme executives.

In her resignation statement, posted on Instagram and reported on Chortle on Thursday, Duker said:  ‘I know my shit from both sides of the camera, having worked substantially in production, since 2013, and naturally my piece wasn’t written in isolation - it had already been meticulously fact-checked, researched and edited for tone and balance days before the record.

‘Despite this, several compromising positions I was put in on the day of the record due to the content of my monologue involved unusual and unacceptable levels of last-minute interference.

‘If I am speaking as me, in my own voice, about such important topics, I must either have written what I am saying or feel comfortable that I fully believe and understand the content and message of the speech I’m given.’

And in her statement Bob said: ‘To require a fact-based analysis and meet compliance is standard with any topic. But to omit the subject completely, as it was from the broadcast, is what I found unconscionable.’

She said that she believed that Duker was ‘mistreated by trying to do what she was hired to do – use  her voice. I trust her ability to shed light on this issue whilst denouncing anti-Semitism.’

In the wake of the row, Comedy Central also pulled the episode from YouTube, where it had previously been available in its entirety.

Duker previously took a stand against The News Quiz, after accusing producers of tokenism for booking her at the last minute to discuss Black Lives Matter, when otherwise the panel would have been all white. She said she  would only return to the Radio 4 show when it employed more black people. 

Published: 29 May 2021