Carol Burnett reveals the sexism she faced

Carol Burnett has spoken of how she was told comedy was a 'man's game' in her early career.

Although her variety show was a huge success on American TV, running on CBS for 11 years from 1967, network executives initially didn't believe a woman was up to the job.

They were stunned when she evoked a clause in a sitcom contract she'd signed more than five years earlier, which gave her the option to make a series of comedy-variety shows.

Speaking on Coanan O'Brien's talk show last night, Burnett, now 85, said: 'When I said I wanted to do that show they said "well, you know Carol, comedy-variety is a man's game. It's Jackie Gleason, it's Sid Caesar, it's Dean Martin".

'The vice-president I was talking to said "You know, Carole, It's not for you gals, but we have this great sitcom we want you to do, called Here's Agnes!"'

But she insisted she didn't want to be in the terribly-titled show, saying: ''I don't want to be the same character every week, I want to do different characters I want to have music and guest stars and a rep company and costumes - we had a 28-piece orchestra!'

However Burnett added that when she was told comedy was a man's game she wasn't too offended explaining: 'I kinda understood it because I was raised thinking that.

'But I said, "That's what I want to do."'

And it seemed to have worked out all right..

Published: 22 May 2018