John Cleese has disclosed that the BBC fought to censor a scene from the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, specifically the 'Don't mention the war' episode. The controversy centres on derogatory language used by the character Major Gowen to describe black people.
According to a Daily Mail report, the BBC made minor edits to the episode to allow it to air at the family-friendly time of 7.30pm. The changes involved removing racist terms spoken by the Major, a cantankerous old duffer.
Cleese, who co-wrote and starred in the show, has previously criticised censorship of comedy. The BBC defended its decision, stating the edits were necessary for the earlier broadcast slot.
The row highlights ongoing debates about historical comedy and modern sensitivities, with some arguing that context should be preserved.
