Warming Up had now past the million hit mark. In just under two years. Thanks for reading. Keep spreading the word.
The Wankel joke did go out uncut, but unfortunately three or four other slightly risque jokes (that had passed the censors initial sweep) had been cut. I am quite angry about this, especially as one of them was a punchline to a sketch - in the Gregorian calendar one, Pope Gregory ends by saying "Look, December. Me and Cardinal Wolsey lezzing up in a manger."
I can see no earthly reason to cut this to be honest. It's much less offensive than the previous assertion that Catholicism is stupid and full of petty rules and regulations. I am not sure "lezzing up" is even an officially recognised thing. I have a feeling it might be a phrase that I made up, but if not then I don't think it's something that most people would say or necessarily know the meaning of. Put in the context of two men indulging in it (whatever it is) then it is completely nonsensical and meaningless. I don't know if this was the BBC cutting at the last minute or due to the over-caution of our producer. But these people have to understand, the more they censor me, the worse I will be. And that's a promise. I am like an S Club Juniors version of Lenny Bruce.
The annoying thing about the initial routine that prompted this furore (which incidentally even my old mum and dad found innocuous) is that if it was condoms and syphillis and prostitutes being discussed on Woman's Hour or something like that in the daytime then no-one would bat an eye-lid. But because I am a comedian it is somehow inappropriate for me to discuss those subjects, however intelligently I approach them (And yes maybe I'm not approaching the subject of lesbianism too intelligently if discussing two medieval male religious figures indulging in it).
I hate the fact that when it comes to comedy all people are looking for is buzzwords that are not allowed and that there seems to be no taking into account the context they are put in. People will be offended by me saying "condom" but not Gillian Reynolds or whoever.
The whole Billy Connolly furore shows how people can react to a comedian daring to comment on something serious. I feel sure that whatever Connolly said that he was attempting to satirise the media approach to the incident and also our own innate prejudices and assumptions. I think the line about wondering what the deal is with the Asian wife is brilliant, because there is a part of all of us, however right on we are, that makes the same horrible judgement. I won't go on about this because it is quite brilliantly covered by some fella that I've never heard of here
http://www.sundayherald.com/45235
But whilst my own brush with authority this week has not been as extreme as Connolly's I think it is important that we let comedians do their job, because we are moving in a dangerous direction if we try to stop them.
