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Fawlty Towers 'Don't Mention The War' Episode Has Been Removed From UKTV

Fawlty Towers 'Don't Mention The War' Episode Has Been Removed From UKTV

The decision has prompted fierce outcry from viewers

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

One of the most well-known episodes from John Cleese's Fawlty Towers series has been removed from the BBC's UKTV streaming service.

The episode, titled 'The Germans', is often remembered for the recurring line 'don't mention the war', which is said throughout.

Hotel owner Basil Fawlty (played by Cleese) goes through a series of comedic mishaps in the episode, such as being smacked in the head with a frying man by hapless waiter Manuel and being sprayed with a fire extinguisher as they prepare for the arrival of new guests.

However, one scene also involves Basil having a discussion with hotel guest Major Gowen that results in racial slurs concerning West Indians.

The episode has now removed from streaming from the UKTV service, with a tweet explaining: "UKTV has temporarily removed an episode of Fawlty Towers 'The Germans' from a Gold Box Set. The episode contains racial slurs so we are taking the episode down while we review it.

"We want to take time to consider our options for this episode."

Around 10 years ago, officials at UKTV edited out the scene between Basil and Major Gowen, although the unedited version is currently streamed by Netflix.

Following the edits, a BBC statement to the Daily Mail read: "Public attitudes have changed significantly since it was made and it was decided to make some minor changes, with the consent of John Cleese's management, to allow the episode to transmit to a family audience at 7.30pm on BBC2."

According to some viewers, the episode is still available on Netflix in the UK and on Foxtel in Australia.

BBC

It comes after several other shows were removed from streaming amid the current social climate.

Four Chris Lilley shows, We Can Be Heroes, Summer Heights High, Jonah from Tonga and Angry Boys, were permanently removed from Netflix in Australia.

Oscar-winning film Gone With the Wind was taken down from HBO's streaming service over the depictions of slavery.

There was a massive backlash against the decision and HBO responded with a statement saying: "These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible."

Little Britain was among several shows to be taken down from its BBC iPlayer catch-up service, with the sketch show notoriously featuring David Walliams and Matt Lucas performing in blackface. The show's follow-up series Come Fly With Me has also been taken down.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film