John Cleese, the British comedy legend not known for his diplomacy, has taken aim at the “cowardly” BBC over its reluctance to offend people.
In an interview with The Radio Times, the Monty Python and Fawlty Towers co-creator said the BBC is “too influenced by the passion and nastiness of the extremely woke.”
He added: “A huge slice of comedy is put straight into the fridge because executives don’t want to get phone calls at dinner. They don’t seem to realise you tease people, you’re rude to people, that you’re fond of.”
Cleese made the comments after a recent meeting with the BBC ended with his ideas being rejected. He described an unnamed senior BBC commissioner as a “clown.”
“The people in charge now have no idea at all. The writers deserve better than this. The British people deserve better than this,” Cleese said.
The 85-year-old claimed that the BBC was not keen on his pitches, and instead wanted to discuss a “hopeless idea” about “Basil Fawlty on a ship or something.”
Fawlty Towers, which featured Fawlty, has enjoyed a renaissance as a West End stage show, and Cleese announced in 2023 that a TV reboot was in the works at Rob Reiner‘s Castle Rock Entertainment.
Cleese did not provide an update on the TV revival, but has previously said he wouldn’t work with the BBC on the series because of creative freedom concerns.
Although it only ran for two seasons, finishing in 1979, Fawlty Towers has ranked No. 1 on numerous best all-time British comedy lists.
The BBC declined to comment on Cleese’s remarks, but those familiar with the corporation’s recent comedy record point to hits including Gavin & Stacey: The Finale and Ludwig.
Cleese is no stranger to attacking the BBC and its executives. In 2018, he called the BBC’s leaders “absolutely f*****g clueless,” while his other gripes include the corporation not regularly showing reruns of Monty Python.
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