BBC removes 11 sketches from That Mitchell & Webb Look for sensitivity

The BBC has removed 11 sketches from the comedy show “That Mitchell & Webb Look” from its iPlayer platform. This decision comes as the network reassesses content from the series, which originally aired from 2006 to 2010, and concluded that the excluded sketches do not resonate with modern audiences.

The show returned to iPlayer to celebrate its 20th anniversary, but the removal of certain sketches reflects a broader trend in media to address cultural sensitivity. A BBC spokesperson stated that the network, in consultation with the program's makers, opted to include only those sketches that "still work today." The deletions are part of an ongoing conversation about how past comedy routines, which may have been acceptable in their time, are now seen as problematic.

Among the sketches removed is one featuring David Mitchell and Robert Webb in blackface as war re-enactors, as well as another portraying a fictional tribe in a garden center. Neither Mitchell nor Webb has commented publicly on the decision to exclude these sketches. The BBC's action follows a similar move in 2020 when the network removed “Little Britain” due to concerns over cultural insensitivity. Creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams later expressed regret for their portrayal of characters from different races.

This incident is part of a larger cultural reckoning in entertainment, where platforms like Britbox have also chosen to exclude shows that contain racist or unacceptable content. As media companies navigate the delicate balance between honoring past works and addressing contemporary values, the removal of these sketches underscores a significant shift in how comedy is produced and consumed today.