Netflix re-edits Peep Show over very controversial scene – but Channel 4 bosses decide to keep it
NETFLIX has re-edited a controversial Peep Show scene - although Channel 4 bosses have decided to keep it.
The scene in question - featuring Robert Webb's character Jez - first aired in 2004.
Hit British shows such as Little Britain and Mighty Boosh have had episodes dropped for featuring blackface and now Peep Show, which ran from 2003 until 2015, has had a scene re-redited by streaming giant Netflix.
Series two episode 'Dance Class' sees Jez in blackface while he and girlfriend Nancy (Rachel Blanchard) experiment in the bedroom.
Jez immediately feels uncomfortable, and says: "It just feels almost wrong. Are you sure this isn’t racist?
But Nancy replies: "We’re breaking a taboo, of course, it feels wrong. We’ve got boundaries to smash, Jeremy.
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"It’s our duty to God, Shiva, NASDAQ, whatever you want to call him. Jeremy, I come from America. I’ve seen the problems race brings up."
At present, the scene is still available to watch in the episode on Channel 4's streaming service.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 told : "Channel 4 is currently undertaking a review of the principles governing how we handle historic programmes across our platforms.
"All 4’s archive contains over 10,000 hours of programming spanning over 30 years.
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"Many shows reflect the time they were made and some contain content which could now be regarded as inappropriate.
";It is a complex issue particularly when it relates to programmes that satirised, commented on or challenged a specific moment in our culture that is no longer relevant to audiences today.
"We understand the strong feelings provoked by some of this content but we do not believe that erasing our creative history is a quick fix for the issues affecting our society today.
"Channel 4 is committed to inclusion and diversity and opposes discrimination in any form and therefore, having reflected deeply on this subject, we are undertaking a review of the principles governing how we handle historic programmes across our platforms."