Repair Shop Pulls Monkhouse Jokes Over 'Sexist' Gag

The BBC's The Repair Shop reportedly halted the restoration of Bob Monkhouse's handwritten joke books due to a perceived sexist joke. The archives, compiled from the 1960s onward by the late comedian, were presented by his adopted daughter and former writing partner. A production employee reportedly flagged a joke as offensive, leading to a decision to cancel the segment.

This decision has drawn criticism from show experts and Monkhouse's loved ones. The joke books contain thousands of pages of gags and cartoons from various eras. Monkhouse meticulously documented his material, carrying his "running files" even before his television fame. These books, which he continued to use until his death in 2003, were previously stolen and recovered.

The BBC stated it was a "production decision" made "out of consideration for all viewers." A spokesperson for the production company confirmed that decisions about which items to include are standard and based on various factors. The joke books themselves contain material from different times, with some jokes and cartoons reflecting attitudes from past decades.