Thousands complain about Catherine Tate Christmas Special

[Ross]

FURY erupted last night after the BBC’s Catherine Tate Christmas Special portrayed a Northern Irish family as “terrorists”.

Switchboards were flooded with complaints from viewers blasting the sketch as “bigoted and racist”.

It showed comedienne Tate, 39 – playing a mother handing out Christmas presents to her Irish family.

The grandmother opens hers to find a balaclava, which she puts over her head. Then her delighted husband receives a knuckleduster which he excitedly uses to punch a chair.

The mum’s gift is an apron with a balaclava-clad terrorist and the words “Remember Everything, Forgive Nothing”.
Finally, the gay son is handed a chocolate penis.

One angry caller said: “She displayed a disgusting and childish interpretation of a difficult and sensitive subject. I respected Miss Tate as a talented and clever performer. I am quite happy to admit my mistake.”

A BBC spokesman said of the Northern Ireland sketch: “Catherine’s comedy is never meant to offend and is always based on satire and grotesque exaggeration.”

Regarding the swearing, she added: “Old Nan’s extreme language is fundamental to what makes her funny.”

[jonleetribute]

aw good blown out of proportion again

[Billy]

I thought it was quite funny :(

[Redmond]

I wouldn't complain about that but I'd complain about the fact that Catherine Tate is not funny in any shape or form. Her humour is based on negative stereotypes and poor catchphrases and has been for years, it's the lowest form of comedy.

[jamesh]

i thought people would complain about the 1st nan sketch where her daughter is with an indian and she says but he's indian as if its a bad thing. which is racist. isn't it?

[Conor]

Im from NI and I really dont care. Infact most of us are sectarian idiots anyway. I really hate this country. Come on, Northern Irelands leaders dont even get on! Call that a country. They blow up innocent people. Come on England, didn't bombers from Derry kill people in London? Infact I hate the whole UK tbh.

[Tom4784]

How can it be racist? since when have Northern Island had their own race? It was kinda offensive to irish people but then again it is a comedy show it's not meant to be taken seriously.

[Matt08]

Some people have nothing better to do than complain to OFCOM about harmless comedy. I didn't even realise that particular sketch revolved around terrorism. I found the whole eposide quite ammusing and wouldn't dream of knocking anyone's hard work because of one minor issue.

[Noel]

Oh grow up people. My parents watched it and they were laughing their heads off. It was years ago, so it's okay to joke about it now. People just look for reasons to complain. They were probably in a bad mood. Burnt their turkey or something.

[Billy]

Well I was PMSL i thought it was absolutely hilarious

[XxShortyxX]

I thought it was funny, then again I do have a sense of humour :bigsmile:

it's just people complaing and moaning again, all they had to do is switch over, tis not hard.

[Sam!]

Originally posted by jamesh
i thought people would complain about the 1st nan sketch where her daughter is with an indian and she says but he's indian as if its a bad thing. which is racist. isn't it?

Not really. God all of this is always blown out of propportion these days lol. The chocolate cock was damn funny though hahaha.

[Ruth*Star]

Originally posted by XxShortyxX
it's just people complaing and moaning again, all they had to do is switch over, tis not hard. I never saw it but your right there, if "it" offended them that much, they have a remote there to turn it over.

[Spike]

People aren't happy unless they are moaning and complaining, I thought it was very funny.

[aj2463]

I was sitting watching it thinking, "Oh My God! I wonder what pathetic people are going to complain!" but I honestly thought that more people would have complained about the Indian thing xx