Fawlty Towers’ iconic ‘Don’t Mention The War’ episode removed from UKTV streaming site
BBC have removed an iconic episode of Fawlty Towers that coined the phrase “Don’t mention the war” from the streaming site UKTV.
The streaming service which is owned by the Corporation, have decided to take down the episode that also features racial terms.
This is the latest “classic” British TV show to be removed from a streaming service owned by the BBC, as broadcasters continue to re-assess old British television content.
A spokesperson for UKTV repeatedly refused to clarify why the programme had been removed, or whether the decision was permanent: “We aren’t commenting on individual titles.
"However, we regularly review our programmes, and make edits, add warnings and make schedule changes where necessary to ensure that our channels meet the expectations of our audience."
The episode in question showed John Cleese as Basil Fawlty yelling the famous phrase while goose-stepping around a Torquay hotel.
The reason as to why the company stopped streaming the episode in question, which ended with Cleese’s character making remarks about the second world war to a German family, is still up in the air.
The original broadcast, which featured character Major Gowen, who stayed at the hotel regularly, was using racist language in reference to an anecdote regarding the West Indies cricket team.
Since then many broadcasters removed the slurs, but it can still be heard in the version currently streaming on Netflix.
This Fawlty Towers episode in question was first broadcast in 1975, also features Cleese’s bigoted character who was in hospital and was shocked when he was treated by a black doctor.
The 11 other episodes of Fawlty Towers remain available to stream on UKTV’s paid on-demand service.
Both Britain and Come Fly With Me have been removed from Netflix, BBC iPlayer and BritBox after controversy over the use of blackface characters.
Both series starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams are no longer available to watch on the online streaming sites amid the Black Lives Matter protests.
BBC and BritBox both confirmed the TV shows have been taken down, telling viewers: "Times have changed."
In Little Britain - which aired from 2003 to 2007 - Walliams wore make up to play spa guest Desiree DeVere.