Benny Hill infamous TV show is making a comeback this Christmas after 20 years, despite featuring 'out-dated and sexist' scenes.
The Benny Hill Show first began in 1955, and included short comedy sketches that focused on the comedians’ slapstick humour, but by the 1970s, it was more famous for risque sketches that saw him chase around scantily-clad young women.
It was cancelled by broadcaster Thames TV in 1989 as bosses feared Benny’s racy sense of humour, coupled with the salacious sketches he performed with women on his eponymous show, were seen by many as sexist and vulgar by some viewers.
The comedian died in 1992 at the age of 68, with the rights to his TV shows controlled by his estate and Thames, and The Benny Hill Show has never been shown on British TV screens since his death.
However, it’s made a long-awaited comeback, and re-runs of the popular comedy sketch show will air on the Freeview channel That’s TV Christmas for the next seven weeks.
Two episodes aired on Thursday night, the first time The Benny Hill Show has been aired in almost three decades, and the TV channel will also feature comedy specials from iconic funnymen including Kenny Everett and Tommy Cooper.
Benny’s show was heavily criticised by offended viewers, who were appalled by his cross-dressing gags and behaviour towards young women, but it was hugely successful, raking in more than £100 million for Thames TV, and attracting more than nine million viewers.
The decision to bring back the controversial comedy show was discussed on shows such as The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5, and This Morning, prompting disgruntled viewers to air their frustration over Benny’s return to our screens.
“We don't need Benny Hill back on TV- we have Boris Johnson (& he's not funny either),” one tweeted.
“Other than the ubiquitous ‘chase’ scenes, I don't remember much of the Benny Hill show from childhood,” a viewer shared. “Tried watching some of it on 'That's TV Gold' last night and for multiple reasons I couldn't manage more than a few minutes.”
“There wasn't (and still isn't) anything remotely funny about Benny Hill. Just another creepy, leering and dirty old man making fun of women for 'laughs' on the telly in the 70s and 80s,” another posted. “I'm so glad 'comedies' like that aren't able to be shown anymore.”
Another quipped: “Benny Hill being brought back to our television…this country is getting scarier by the minute,” while one joked: “People only found Benny Hill funny because there were only 3 tv channels.”
But some of the funnyman’s fans were overjoyed Benny’s eponymous TV show was making a comeback, with many suggesting that his humour was gentle and “done with a cheeky wink”.
“When Benny Hill was on, children thought it was funny, adults thought it was funny on a totally different level. We all got the smutty childish stupidity. We all understood what was in our head as apposed to what was on the screen,” one wrote.
“Benny Hill made millions for Thames Television. The programmes are still shown in the USA, and all over the world .Even Charlie Chaplin was a fan.If you don't like it, switch off.!” another added.
“#BennyHill is something most modern TV comedy is not: funny,” one fan posted.
The Benny Hill Show is showing on That’s TV Christmas, available on Freeview channels 91 and 264, Sky channel 187 and Freesat channel 178