Posted on 04/15/2025 5:15:33 AM PDT by Angelino97
Benny Hill was once one of Britain's most popular entertainers, with his particular brand of comedy - slapstick and risque - hugely popular for some two decades with a theme tune that will bring back memories for anyone of a certain age.
It's reported that one of his specials, aired in 1969, attracted a bigger audience than the moon landings but in recent years, the comedian has fallen out of favour, with some of his sketches being criticised over their racist and sexist jokes.
This was the topic of a recent Channel 5 programme, The Cancellation of Benny Hill, looking back at the comedian's career, noting that his popularity extended to major stars including Michael Jackson, while he also appeared in a number of movies, including The Italian Job and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In 1971, viewing figures for his show topped 21 million and the comedian was awarded ITV personality of the year.
But his success would come to a sudden end in the 1980s and his shows are 'rarely on TV nowadays – having been criticised for containing racist, sexist, risqué and vulgar content which would be deemed unacceptable by today's standards'.
Programme's makers looked back through the archives to find footage that cannot 'under normal circumstances' be played on TV today, and aired it for some younger viewers, Ellie, Pradeep, and Jodie, as well as cultural commentators, to get their reactions.
The show also sought to answer the question of 'whether it’s time to bring Benny out of the comedy cold, or whether he should stay "cancelled?".'
Some of the clips shocked the younger viewers due to their politically incorrect content, however, there were others that they found more amusing.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
How do you make a hormone.......don’t pay her.😁
Bingo.
The one Benny Hill joke that made me spew my drink all over the floor, it was so funny.
“What is the difference between a vitamin and a hormone?
You can’t make a vitamin!”
What’s the difference between a Beer and a Pea?
Twenty minutes!
What is an Asset?
-A little donkey.
What is an Ascot?
-A little donkey’s bed.
Little Britain has been called out for transphobia and racism, and it's a relatively recent comedy show.
Google “Little Britain, transphobia, racism.”
Watched the Young Ones a lot. Good Neighbors was funny too.
Google “Little Britain, transphobia, racism.”
Why would I care what google will tell me to think?
Benny Hill was funny - that’s all that should matter with comedy.
In the 6th & 9th photo is Jane Leeves from tv show Frasier.
In the Benny Hill show you will find her er... see video.
Jane Leeves - in The Benny Hill Show! -
In the 2nd part of the video she cannot find the oven gloves anywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bxoAsvhcOI
How Benny Hill babe Jane Leeves became the queen of U.S. TV
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1298828/How-Benny-Hill-babe-Jane-Leeves-queen-U-S-TV.html
Years ago while playing an online game, a guy from Britain asked me what we Americans thought of Benny Hill. He was surprised when I told him Benny Hill was immensely popular with us Americans.
Lol. His friends probably told him that like we tell people, incredulously that Jerry Lewis is big in France. Nobody believes it until you ask a Frenchman. Or Hasselhoff is big in Germany until you ask a German.
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