Comedy writers 'no longer taking risks'

By Marc Settle
Producer, BBC Radio 4

Iannucci says some producers are "scared of crossing the line"

"Jokes aren't true - they're lies they're exaggerations, they're distortion, they're imbalance, they're having a go, they're bullying, they're insulting," says The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci

"Of course the intention is to cause offence.

"The intention is to cause hilarity but, with hilarity, someone, somewhere along the line will be a bit a miffed."

Iannucci - whose long and distinguished CV also includes The Day Today, Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge - is one of a number of leading figures who fear the rules of comedy writing in Britain are changing.

At the BBC, new compliance guidelines were brought in following the row over obscene phone messages left for Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs by Radio 2 presenters Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand in October 2008.

There are first-time producers, or those who've only been producing for a few years, who have not been left alone to think or make judgements for themselves Armando Iannucci

"There is this build-up of self-censorship taking place," Iannucci told Radio 4's PM programme.

"There are first-time producers, or those who've only been producing for a few years, who have not been left alone to think or make judgements for themselves.

"There's a new generation who are maybe a bit scared of crossing the line."

Instead, producers and writers are choosing not to take a risk with a line or a scene because it "might cause trouble", he added.

Holding back?

Former head of BBC comedy Jon Plowman, now an executive producer working on shows like the corporation's Psychoville, said: "In the last few years, we've all just worried a bit more about the risks we take."

There's this sort of apologising and compliance culture. You become much more aware of it and writers possibly self censor what they send to us Executive producer Jon Plowman

A recent BBC event for writers was a case in point, he said.

"We were told to take risks 'sensibly', which just sounds to me like 'if you're going to jump out of a fifth-floor window, please do it carefully'.

"There's this sort of apologising and compliance culture.

"You become much more aware of it and writers possibly self-censor what they send to us."

He cites a new comedy being shown in Canada called A Little Mosque on the Prairie.

"I don't think anybody would write that now in Britain because they'd worry that the BBC, or indeed any broadcaster, wouldn't make it," he adds.

Mark Thompson says he is "committed to cutting-edge comedy"

The BBC, meanwhile, maintains that comedy writers and producers should continue to take risks.

Director general Mark Thompson told a conference on Thursday that he remained committed to cutting edge comedy and, specifically, to taking a few risks.

Answering questions from delegates, Mr Thompson conceded that some risks would go wrong but added: "If the BBC abandoned live broadcasts and got the lawyers to check everything first, people would end up feeling we'd lost something."

His sentiment is echoed by Caroline Raphael, the corporation's commissioning editor for comedy and entertainment.

"It's a concern for all of us," she said.

Don't assume, like a naughty child, that mummy or daddy will say no automatically BBC commissioning editor Caroline Raphael's message to comedy writers

"Not just new talent, but established talent are getting concerned.

"You read comedians in major papers writing 'Is it worth it?' and I want to weep.

"If they're being put off by the hoops they perceive they're being asked to jump through, it's really worrying."

She wants writers to avoid making assumptions about risky material.

"My message is this - just talk to us. Don't assume, like a naughty child, that mummy or daddy will say no automatically.

"Let's talk about it. But the worry is we never get as far as that conversation."