New series for Channel 4

John Cleese is to make a new Channel 4 series about so-called ‘cancel culture’.

In John Cleese: Cancel Me, the comedian – who has long spoken out against what he sees as an increasing censoriousness – will  ask whether it is possible to make good comedy without someone taking offence

The broadcaster says the Monty Python star will ‘set forth into the minefield of cancel culture to explore why a new "woke" generation is trying to rewrite the rules on what can and can’t be said’.

He will meet those who feel they have been cancelled, as well as those who have campaigned against programmes and comedians. 

Last year, Cleese called broadcaster UKTV  ‘stupid’ for editing a line from a 1975 episode  Fawlty Towers in which old duffer Major Gowen used the n-word. He said: ‘We were not supporting his views, we were making fun of them.’

Talking about his new series, Cleese said: ‘I’m delighted to have a chance to find out, on camera, about all the aspects of so-called political correctness.

‘There’s so much I really don’t understand, like: how the impeccable idea of "Let’s all be kind to people" has been developed in some cases ad absurdum.’

‘I want to bring the various reasonings right out in the open so that people can be clearer in their minds what they agree with, what they don’t agree with, and what they still can’t make their mind up about.’

Published: 23 Aug 2021