Best Of

"An episode of the BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV production worker objected to a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse joke.

The late comedian and presenter’s famous joke books had been brought into the studio for repair by Colin Edmonds, his former comedy partner, and Abigail Williams, his adopted daughter.

The restoration of the books was to be filmed at the show’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, for a special tribute programme, to be aired this year.

However, a member of Ricochet, the production company that makes Repair Shop, complained about one of Monkhouse’s jokes, claiming it was sexist. Corporation bosses then decided to pull the segment."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/bob-monkhouse-repair-shop-bbc-axed-episode/

Hard to judge without more (I've skimmed the article). What was the joke? Could the joke be pulled and still keep the show (or did the family/partner object to that?). Were there so many jokes that can't be broadcast now (perhaps could never have been broadcast if this was live material) that it wasn't viable to do the show at all?

Article implies the employee simply found the joke looking through the books... no suggestion it was to be broadcast.

"A production employee stumbled across a joke – no doubt written in the 1960s – and took offence, believing it to be sexist.

They flagged the problem, and a ‘collective decision’ was made to cull the whole thing."

I didn't read it that way. Seems crazy if if that's the case.

"An episode of the BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV production worker objected to a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse joke.

The late comedian and presenter’s famous joke books had been brought into the studio for repair by Colin Edmonds, his former comedy partner, and Abigail Williams, his adopted daughter.

The restoration of the books was to be filmed at the show’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, for a special tribute programme, to be aired this year

However, a member of Ricochet, the production company that makes Repair Shop, complained about one of Monkhouse’s jokes, claiming it was sexist. Corporation bosses then decided to pull the segment."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/bob-monkhouse-repair-shop-bbc-axed-episode/

We have forgotten how to say No.

...we have also forgotten how to say "Dude, what the actual fuck! They're books! We are restoring books! That's a good thing, yes?".

Although I accept that "No" is shorter.

"An episode of the BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV production worker objected to a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse joke.

The late comedian and presenter’s famous joke books had been brought into the studio for repair by Colin Edmonds, his former comedy partner, and Abigail Williams, his adopted daughter.

The restoration of the books was to be filmed at the show’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, for a special tribute programme, to be aired this year.

However, a member of Ricochet, the production company that makes Repair Shop, complained about one of Monkhouse’s jokes, claiming it was sexist. Corporation bosses then decided to pull the segment."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/bob-monkhouse-repair-shop-bbc-axed-episode/

We have forgotten how to say No.

What was the joke? ISTR he did a fair number of mother-in-law jokes...

Les Dawson was more your man for mother in law jokes.
My favoutite Monkhouse is 'my father still enjoys sex at 75. He lives at 71, its no distance'

"I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my father. Not screaming in terror like his passengers."

They all laughed when i said i wanted to be a stand up comedian. Well they're not laughing now.

"An episode of the BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV production worker objected to a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse joke.

The late comedian and presenter’s famous joke books had been brought into the studio for repair by Colin Edmonds, his former comedy partner, and Abigail Williams, his adopted daughter.

The restoration of the books was to be filmed at the show’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, for a special tribute programme, to be aired this year.

However, a member of Ricochet, the production company that makes Repair Shop, complained about one of Monkhouse’s jokes, claiming it was sexist. Corporation bosses then decided to pull the segment."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/bob-monkhouse-repair-shop-bbc-axed-episode/

We have forgotten how to say No.

What was the joke? ISTR he did a fair number of mother-in-law jokes...

Les Dawson was more your man for mother in law jokes.
My favoutite Monkhouse is 'my father still enjoys sex at 75. He lives at 71, its no distance'

"I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my father. Not screaming in terror like his passengers."

"An episode of the BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV production worker objected to a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse joke.

The late comedian and presenter’s famous joke books had been brought into the studio for repair by Colin Edmonds, his former comedy partner, and Abigail Williams, his adopted daughter.

The restoration of the books was to be filmed at the show’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, for a special tribute programme, to be aired this year.

However, a member of Ricochet, the production company that makes Repair Shop, complained about one of Monkhouse’s jokes, claiming it was sexist. Corporation bosses then decided to pull the segment."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/bob-monkhouse-repair-shop-bbc-axed-episode/

Hard to judge without more (I've skimmed the article). What was the joke? Could the joke be pulled and still keep the show (or did the family/partner object to that?). Were there so many jokes that can't be broadcast now (perhaps could never have been broadcast if this was live material) that it wasn't viable to do the show at all?

Article implies the employee simply found the joke looking through the books... no suggestion it was to be broadcast.

"A production employee stumbled across a joke – no doubt written in the 1960s – and took offence, believing it to be sexist.

They flagged the problem, and a ‘collective decision’ was made to cull the whole thing."

The books must be burned. Publically. And a gofundme set up for the offended worker

"An episode of the BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV production worker objected to a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse joke.

The late comedian and presenter’s famous joke books had been brought into the studio for repair by Colin Edmonds, his former comedy partner, and Abigail Williams, his adopted daughter.

The restoration of the books was to be filmed at the show’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, for a special tribute programme, to be aired this year.

However, a member of Ricochet, the production company that makes Repair Shop, complained about one of Monkhouse’s jokes, claiming it was sexist. Corporation bosses then decided to pull the segment."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/bob-monkhouse-repair-shop-bbc-axed-episode/

We have forgotten how to say No.

What was the joke? ISTR he did a fair number of mother-in-law jokes...

Les Dawson was more your man for mother in law jokes.
My favoutite Monkhouse is 'my father still enjoys sex at 75. He lives at 71, its no distance'

"An episode of the BBC’s The Repair Shop was pulled after a TV production worker objected to a “sexist” Bob Monkhouse joke.

The late comedian and presenter’s famous joke books had been brought into the studio for repair by Colin Edmonds, his former comedy partner, and Abigail Williams, his adopted daughter.

The restoration of the books was to be filmed at the show’s barn in Singleton, West Sussex, for a special tribute programme, to be aired this year.

However, a member of Ricochet, the production company that makes Repair Shop, complained about one of Monkhouse’s jokes, claiming it was sexist. Corporation bosses then decided to pull the segment."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/bob-monkhouse-repair-shop-bbc-axed-episode/

We have forgotten how to say No.

Have we done the Tories in fourth place with YouGov?

Ref 23 (-2)

Lab 19 (+2)

GRN 18 (-1)

Con 17 (=)

LD 13 (-1)

I reckon it is the war that is behind a lot of this.

Hearing the focus groups are sympathetic to Starmer re Trump & the war.

Albeit Tories only 1% behind the Greens and only 6% separates them from top placed Reform with Yougov now.

If those are the voteshares in the NEV after the local and devolved elections in May and the Tories are 4th behind Reform, Labour and even the Greens though Kemi will be gone, there will be a VONC in her leadership from Tory MPs and she will then be replaced by Cleverly. So Kemi needs to get a better result than that, on the plus side for her Yougov have the Greens higher than most pollsters do

A £50 charity bet that Kemi either does not face a VONC by 1st September - or if she does, she survives it.

Interested?

Yes, if the Tories are 4th in May Kemi will certainly face a VONC in my view, so I will take a bet on those terms, the Tories coming third or worse in May will have a VONC. If the Tories are second or better she won't so the bet is then void

You're in the party am I'm not. But I would have thought the pressure on her was past:
Tories have cleared out the mad, insane and stupid to Reform. You are a Better Party without those morons.
Reform are on the slide. Plot the trendline, look at the hurdles they face.
Kemi has found her rhythm - previous government a bit crap, I'm new, I'm punchy, life vs Starmer's inertia

And you want to replace her with Shithole Cleverley?

If the Tories are second to Reform in May then yes Kemi will be safe.

If Yougov is right though and the Conservatives are behind not only Reform but Labour too and even maybe the Greens I am afraid Kemi is gone and will be removed. Not only will she have failed to win back rightwing voters from Reform she will also have lost centrist swing voters to Labour, the latter the type of voters Cleverly appeals more to

What do you think Cleverly would do any different to Kemi other than take the party lower in the polls ?

Well he polls better with all voters as shown at the time of the 2024 leadership election and if the Tories are fourth as Yougov says this morning there really isn't much lower they can go Kemi hasn't already taken them

If you are using a 2024 poll then you have no case

Kemi is a gnats bollock away from losing 33% of the Tory vote in a GE that was their worst result in 100 years

She tries to out Reform as Reform lose 20% of their headline vote.

One Nation Toryism of the likes of Heseltine and Cameron would comfortably polling low to mid 20s

She has no
Brand
Identity
Policy
Vision
Plan

Everything is an argument
She is surrounded by busted flushes

The more people see of her the less they like.

She is irrelevant to the right, the left and in the centre.

Usual tripe from you

Kemi tops leaders approval and is on 84% approval with members

Kemi is not the problem, the brand is still suffering from Johnson Truss years but she has 3 years to recover the brand

Anyway you and @HYUFD seem to agree and like each other posts so that is the strangest of alliances on here

This is over optimistic. With Reform trending down, the Tories should be, but are not, the big gainers. The Greens' upward curve mirrors Reform's exactly.

Kemi is not addressing the central questions of Tory voters (I was one for nearly 50 years): Who do I vote for is I want a sane centre right party that that can actually form a coherent government with 326 seats?

Why should I vote Tory instead of Reform if I am one of their more right wing voters voters?

Who do I vote for tactically if I certainly want to stop Reform but I think the Tories can't form a government and might keep Reform in power?

Kemi has announced the end of stamp duty and farmers IT, will address student loans and wants to help the young, will address the boats and fair immigration, drill in the north sea, and above all prioritise defence

Of course the conservative brand is a problem but changing the leader who is popular amongst her mps and the membership would be an act of self harm and you do have to wonder why some lefties concentrate on attacking her if they do not see her as a threat and would like her gone

I would exclude @HYUFD because he seems fairly unique in conservatives who would prefer Cleverly for reasons beter known to himself

To be honest BigG I think lefties think Kemi makes even IDS look a terrifying threat in retrospect. At the moment the only threat she poses is to Tory MPs holding their seats

You live in little england farage land and are very much a de facto supporter of the right and of course where Cleverly is an mp

I fully expect the mps and party to reject your calls post May

I find myself somewhat balanced between @Big_G_NorthWales and @HYUFD

I was very frustrated at being denied the opportunity to vote for James Cleverly at the time of the leadership election because the MPs ballsed things up. He would have been the best choice as LOTO not least because he looks prime ministerial, is reassuring, and would have contrasted with Farage in a positive way.

However, we are where we are, and I kinda like Kemi. She definitely has a dash of stardust and can be effective.

I cannot believe that changing the leader now would be a good idea. Party would risk being seen as a laughing stock, and I'm unconvinced that there would be any kind of Cleverly "bounce". I'm afraid we just have to keep buggerin' on (as I believe WSC once said).

Sorry if the Tories come fourth in May voters will have made their mind up on Kemi, that she has to go

You mean you have but her mps and party haven't

If the Tories are fourth in May most Tory MPs face losing their seats and will act accordingly

You are not listening to wise council on here from fellow conservatives and sensible thinking left contributors leading amongst them @NickPalmer who are agreed changing leader does not make election prospects better and in Kemi's case she has 84% member support

I am expecting a difficult May, especially in Scotland and Wales, and the biggest irony of all, the leading contender for trashing of the conservative brand is your hero Johnson !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Conservatives were polling 30% when Boris resigned, they are now polling just 17% today with Kemi

And that is the damage he caused the party

Nope, had Boris stayed 100 Tory MPs would have kept their seats and the Tories still well ahead of Reform. Truss would never have become PM with her budget disaster and Sunak not Kemi might be Leader of the Opposition with a big poll lead

On the other hand the level of disgust might have got worse and the Tories crashed to an even worse defeat than in 2064!

The Conservatives were on 30% when Boris resigned, 6% ahead of the 24% Rishi got in 2024

The Greens and Reform are underrepresented on PB. The header explains why. Greens and Reform are the parties for people with few assets and little chance of obtaining them. Most on here have plenty of assets and are happy to keep them, if necessary at the expense of those without. The term that used to be used for us was boomers. A few, such as @OldKingCole, @Foxy and @NickPalmer think of the wider population, and are those at least considering the Greens. Probably not coincidentally, they are posters that seem to take more interest in the views of their families.

The data in the header doesn't indicate that Reform voters are unusually poor. 41% of them are financially comfortable compared to the 43% in the general population who are. That's not very different. But point taken re PBers. We are mainly top quartile (at least) in wealth. Least that's my impression.

I wonder how they assessed 'financially comfortable' btw. I wouldn't totally trust a self-select on that. People tend to shy away from saying that about themselves.

Nicking a line from Steven J Gould, The Median is not The Message. That's especially true for Farage Followers. Some are the properly Left Behind, and it's a blot on the records of all governments in my lifetime how much that was just allowed to happen. But very many are extremely comfortable materially, and their discontent is more cultural. Some of that is just that they're getting old, and the cultural caravan is moving on without them. Some of it is not liking the conseqences of their votes and personal spending decisions. (Yes, your High Street is crumbling, but that's mostly because you have spent years not buying things there.)

The first group were often historically non-voters, and who can blame them? The second tend to cluster in the posher bits of unposh areas. How you analyse those is a problem for analysts. How you simultaneously please them both is a problem for all the Reform councillors about to be elected.