It’s been revealed that Little Britain has been removed from streaming / on demand services amid growing controversies over the show’s use of blackface for characters.
The Daily Mail has announced today that BBC iPlayer, Netflix and BritBox are amongst the broadcasters to have removed the classic 00s comedy sketch programme from their show roster.
It’s believed to be a response to recent heavy criticism amid the Black Lives Matter movement.
Little Britain, created by and staring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, ran on the BBC from 2003 – 2005 and developed a cult fan base whilst on air.
The pair’s other show Come Fly With Me has also been removed.
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In Little Britain, David Walliams regularly wore make up to play health-spa guest Desiree DeVere and in Come Fly With Me, he played ‘passenger liaison officer’ Moses Beacon and airline boss Omar Baba. Matt Lucas also famously played characters including coffee shop worker Precious Little and airport worker Taaj on the airline comedy sketch show.
Calls to remove both of the shows from streaming / on demand services began gaining a wide amount of traction on social media platforms last week.
— Kris Who Is Antifa (@KrisWhoTweets) June 6, 2020
Has @davidwalliams ever apologised for doing Blackface in Little Britain? Coz it seems like everyone has forgotten that he did, so here’s a reminder pic.twitter.com/USeMfW7SV3
So happy to see people finally tearing into David Walliams and Matt Lucas. Little Britain has done irreparable damage to how the British perceive trans, black and disabled peoples.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: “There’s a lot of historical programming available on BBC iPlayer, which we regularly review.”
“Times have changed since Little Britain first aired so it is not currently available on BBC iPlayer.”
On its decision to remove the shows, BritBox added: “Times have changed since Little Britain first aired, so it is not currently available on BritBox. Come Fly With Me has not been available on the service for six months.”
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Matt Lucas has previously spoken out about the show’s use of blackface in an interview with Big Issue back in 2017 and told the publication that he believed it was “lazy” for white people to “get a laugh just by playing black characters”.
He said: “If I could go back and do Little Britain again, I wouldn’t make those jokes about transvestites. I wouldn’t play black characters. Basically, I wouldn’t make that show now. It would upset people. We made a more cruel kind of comedy than I’d do now.”
He also added that there was no “bad intent there” and they had simply been showing off about “what a diverse bunch of people we could play”.
David Walliams has also previously acknowledged in a past interview that he would “definitely do [things] differently” in today’s cultural landscape if the shows were to ever be revived.
News
Will Smith announces huge gig in Manchester this year
Thomas Melia
Hollywood icon and music star Will Smith is releasing new music for the first time in 20 years, and he’s performing in Manchester later this year.
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down because The Fresh Prince a.k.a Will Smith is coming to Manchester and he’s bringing new music too.
One of the biggest names in the world, the 56-year-old is behind some seriously catchy songs like ‘Miami’, Summertime’, ‘Gettin Jiggy Wit It’.
His new album drops on 28 March, titled ‘Based On A True Story’, and has some featuring credits from R&B megastar Teyana Taylor and his own son Jaden too.
The opening track of the new record ‘Int. Barbershop – Day’ even sees the Philadelphia native linking up with ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ theme tune collaborator, DJ Jazzy Jeff.
It should come as no surprise that this superstar is returning to the stage since both his children have been reaching impressive heights with their musical careers, especially Willow.
Smith has been kicking it with the big dogs of the rap scene recently as current global phenomenon Doechii recruited him for a viral video surrounding her latest single ‘Anxiety’.
This isn’t the only way Smith has been staying in the public eye, he’s also dropped the collaboration ‘First Love’ with Spanish singer, India Martínez, even performing it at Latin award show, Premio Lo Nuestro.
This isn’t the only huge stage he’s performing on as he took to social media to announce he’ll be playing for Concacaf Nations League at Sofi Stadium on 23 March.
The Hollywood star has picked up an Oscar, four Grammys, a BAFTA and films he’s featured in have grossed just under $10 billion – he is legendary.
Now, he’s set to play three UK cities including Manchester, London and even a show in Wolverhampton, we really did get lucky with this one.
The album cover for his latest drop in 20 years ‘Based On A True Story’.The tracklist for Will Smith’s upcoming project.Credit: Instagram
Man City fan jailed after causing £10k damage to a police vehicle following Champions League victory
Emily Sergeant
A Manchester City fan has been jailed for his part in large-scale disorder following the club’s Champions League victory.
The court heard how, following Manchester City’s Champions League Final win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in Turkey on Saturday 10 June 2023, jubilant fans flocked to the streets of Manchester city centre for late-night celebrations.
The large influx of fans in high spirits prompted a police response to ‘ensure public safety’ and ‘prevent any public disorder’, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
However, the disorder did begin to escalate despite police presence.
A number of fans, including 22-year-old Leon Blackett, scaled a police vehicle and proceeded to jump up and down on it, which subsequently caused more than £10,000 worth of damage, and resulted in the vehicle having to be written off.
#JAILED | Leon Blackett (14/01/2003) of Craigmore Avenue, has been been handed a three-month jail term for causing £10k worth of damage to a police vehicle following the club's Champions League win in 2023, along with 41 months for other offences.
Following the disorder, an investigation was launched by GMP’s City Centre policing, with officers obtaining social media and CCTV footage that helped them to identify those responsible.
Blackett admitted to the offence, after he was arrested on Thursday 19 October 2023.
Following admitting to the offence, Blackett was sentenced to 44 months in prison – a three-month jail term for this football-related offence, along with 41 months for possession of a bladed article and a domestic related communications offence.
He has also been given a seven-year Football Banning Order, commencing on the day Blackett received his sentence.
“The actions by Blackett in the wake of Manchester City’s historic Champions League Final victory were completely unacceptable,” commented PC Matt Ford, from GMP’s Specialist Operations Planning Unit.
“This is a timely reminder to those who commit crimes while following the football in another country, we will seek prosecutions for unacceptable behaviour.”
The Manc -
9th June 2020 
