John Cleese to explore cancel culture and the ‘woke’ generation in new Channel 4 series

Comedy veteran John Cleese will be taking on the topic of cancel culture in his upcoming new documentary series, set to be aired on Channel 4.

John Cleese: Cancel Me will explore ‘why a new ‘woke’ generation is trying to rewrite the rules on what can and can’t be said.’

In the series, the eighty-one year old comedian and actor will meet various public figures and celebrities who claim to have been ‘cancelled’ for their actions or statements, and activists who have led opposition to various public figures.

Bruce Baker / Flickr

In a statement, Cleese said: “I’m delighted to have a chance to find out, on camera, about all the aspects of so-called political correctness. There’s so much I really don’t understand, like: how the impeccable idea of ‘Let’s all be kind to people’ has been developed in some cases ad absurdum.

“I want to bring the various reasonings right out in the open so that people can be clearer in their minds what they agree with, what they don’t agree with, and what they still can’t make their mind up about.”

Cleese himself has also been dangerously close to being cancelled – his previous work on Fawlty Towers and Monty Python has landed the actor in hot water on a number of occasions. 

Last year, Cleese responded angrily to a UKTV decision to remove an episode of Fawlty Towers that allegedly contained ‘racial slurs.’

BBC

The episode, titled ‘The Germans’, featured a scene in which a character used racist language in an anecdote about the West Indies cricket team.

Speaking about the decision at the time, Cleese had said: “If you put nonsense words into the mouth of someone you want to make fun of, you’re not broadcasting their views, you’re making fun of them. The major was an old fossil left over from decades before.

“We were not supporting his views, we were making fun of them. If they can’t see that – if people are too stupid to see that – what can one say?”

John Cleese: Cancel Me will be aired on Channel 4, though it is yet to have an official release date.