Helen Lewis

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Jon Stewart reacts incredulously to the Daily Show's British ban

"I've seen the s*** you air on Channel 4," says the comedian.

By Helen Lewis Published 03 August 2011 15:18

And so the serpent of news eats its own tail. On Monday's Daily Show, the host, Jon Stewart, reacted to the fact that Britain couldn't show a recent episode of the Daily Show.

As Stewart points out, Channel 4 can show live autopsies, oversexed teenagers and Gillian McKeith's toilet talk but can't screen footage of the Commons in a satirical context -- even when our parliament is being praised.

By contrast, the other 84 countries that show the Daily Show Global Edition -- "including such free speech havens as, I don't know, Chad, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen" -- could air the clip.

Is our parliament, Stewart asked, "too fragile to withstand a gentle parody, a good-natured kick to the clotted creams?"

He adds: "Here's the thing. I've seen the shit you air on Channel 4. It's basically a non-stop suck-and-f*** fest of teenage shagging, gay orgies and live autopsies and, of course, this lady . . ." At this point, he cuts to McKeith telling a victim, "If you switch to fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes . . . you will produce completely different poo. A poo that is aromatic."

You can watch the video of the segment on Mediaite and the original blog on the ruling (featured on the show) is here.

There's also a discussion of the subject on the Today programme here and Graham Linehan, who set the whole story going, did a whizzy Storify rendition of it here.

PS. Has anyone actually seen that horrifying sausage advert on television? Thankfully, I haven't.

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18 comments

Wed, 2011-08-03 16:12 — Sean (not verified)

Excellent. I was hoping TDS would pick this up.

Wed, 2011-08-03 16:39 — priggy

That advert is from at least 2007. I can't remember it but I googled it.

Wed, 2011-08-03 16:42 — David (not verified)

It is a serious matter that Parliament has effectively banned anyone from criticising it or the events which occur there. Another example of how the sham of democracy operates here.

Wed, 2011-08-03 16:42 — mike cobley (not verified)

What...the....FRAK? Channel 4 has - banned! - an edition of the Daily Show? A segment of Commons footage cannot be included in a satirical or comedic program? BY LAW?

Well, this law is an ass.

Wed, 2011-08-03 16:55 — Demotivatrix (not verified)

David, don't be daft. Parliament hasn't "effectively banned anyone from criticising it or the events which occur there". It just doesn't let you use the footage from the Commons or Lords to do it. Personally I'm convinced they put that particular clause in so that comedy shows wouldn't run clip montages of MPs/Lords dozing off during debates. Not that it's saved Ken Clarke from being pointed out on the News occasionally, when he's been "resting his eyes" on the front bench.

Wed, 2011-08-03 16:56 — Simon (not verified)

wow, I never knew this.

Wed, 2011-08-03 17:24 — Shane (not verified)

Spiiting Image never did that, did they

Wed, 2011-08-03 17:25 — Jay Sears (not verified)

Jon actually praised your parliment in the clip. I am 'gob-smacked' that the rest of the world can see and laugh at it - but you guys cannot. Who are they protecting?

Wed, 2011-08-03 17:52 — Livers (not verified)

Do it in cartoon, it'll have more gravitas than the original footage anyway.

Hanna-Barbara characters only.

Wed, 2011-08-03 17:52 — scottishwildcat (not verified)

Why has this apparently come as such a surprise to people like Brooker and Linehan who've worked in UK TV comedy for years? The rule has been in place since day one of televised parliament in 1992, plenty of other countries have the same rule, and nobody's batted an eyelid up to now. I certainly don't care what a painfully mediocre US TV host thinks of it.

Wed, 2011-08-03 18:24 — Lovely Jane (not verified)

We don't even get the Daily show so I don't see the problem. Channel 4 stopped the full show in January with no notice and all we get is the 'best of', the Readers Digets version if you like.

Why are we not asking Channel 4 why they've stopped showing this too?

Wed, 2011-08-03 18:37 — Hobson (not verified)

Hi Jay

There's no law in the UK to prevent anyone praising Parliament, criticising it, satirising it, calling MPs a bunch of wankers or discussing the role played by Theresa May in their sexual fantasies, whether on television or anywhere else.

There are rules about the use of footage taken by the cameras inside the Chamber of the Commons while the Commons is sitting (rules which certainly don't require More4 to scrap the entire episode of the Daily Show).

The rules may be stupid but they have never been secret and they don't quite add up to the type of restriction some people seem to thin they do.

Wed, 2011-08-03 20:06 — Julian2

I quote David: 'It is a serious matter that Parliament has effectively banned anyone from criticising it or the events which occur there. Another example of how the sham of democracy operates here.'

I say: 'It is a serious matter that the New Statesman effectively allowsfools to post openly on matters of serious public concern. It is another example of the failure of democracy here.'

Thu, 2011-09-08 17:20 — kate (not verified)

Get Jon to do a show re.how yahoo operates in Canada,pushing its American interests agenda.Amazing ,that last night ,they blocked as many negative comments they could against their man Perry.what a rt. wing nut.the thumbs down button seemed to have jam in it.love that show,best NEWS GOING,YAHOO IS COMMIE.

Wed, 2011-08-10 05:57 — Harry Greenwood (not verified)

Showing Britain's MP's at work is real comedy!

Sat, 2011-08-06 17:06 — PhilJoMar (not verified)

@Crutchbender
Whilst you were opening your mouth wide for your 'oh so funny' yawn a fly, having recently alighted on one of Gillian McKeith's aromatic poos, decided to take a detour on its merry travels by way of your tonsils.
Signed
The Lord of the Flies