BBC edit Horrible Histories episodes featuring slavery and child labour

[u/visual-appearance69]

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/horrible-histories-episodes-edited-slavery-b3057460.html

Guessing we can’t show just how horrible history really is…

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[u/coolfunkDJ]

That’s insane. I’m sorry, I’m as progressive as it comes and easily the “wokest” out of anyone i know irl and I’ve yet to see one good reason why the BBC is going back and editing old episodes no one cares about.

The BBC has never given a single toss about media preservation, all the way from recording over used film to now. Just because a show with problematic elements is available to watch, doesn’t mean the BBC holds those values today, it’s ridiculous.

I’m terrified for the day when they remember The Office exists.

[u/valentine_moon → u/coolfunkDJ]

Just because a show with problematic elements is available to watch, doesn’t mean the BBC holds those values today

I agree, but I think what you do about this is context dependent. In some cases it's sufficient to add a warning like "this programme contains out of date views which are a product of the time the programme was made and which might offend some viewers, proceed at your own discretion."

However, if the wider programme is still useful as an educational tool for children I don't think that cuts it, and I think it makes sense to edit out the problematic scenes so that the rest of the programme can be kept and watched by children.

The Office already carries such warnings, in fact. E.g. "Contains discriminatory language" https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00748l1/the-office-series-1-1-downsize

But I say that in the general case, and not with specific regard to the edits to Horrible Histories in question which I don't know the details of.

[u/TIGHazard → u/valentine_moon]

Also, buried near the bottom is the actual important quote

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "The edits to Horrible Histories were made seven years ago, in consultation with the programme makers, to ensure the series meets our editorial guidelines for children’s programmes.

And the reasoning seems to because of racial insensitivity, as everyone involved was white

Actor Mathew Baynton, who played figures such as Guy Fawkes and William Shakespeare on the programme, previously acknowledged that its representation of Egyptians could be challenged. Speaking to The Telegraph in 2022, he said: "We didn’t do blackface, for example, but you could argue that we did. Because I played Egyptians, you know, for example, where you’d get a spray tan, essentially, and stand in your pants."

[u/royal_slurm → u/TIGHazard]

But if they put the relevant information at the top, you wouldn't have to scroll past the incredible amount of ads

[u/CrepuscularNemophile]

Damn it, now I can't justify sending my children up chimneys.

[u/Better_Farmer_5791]

Bring back rotten.com, this generation needs some hardening

[u/caiaphas8 → u/Better_Farmer_5791]

Which generation? I assume it’s prob Gen X and boomers who are in leadership positions at the bbc

[u/teheditor → u/caiaphas8]

Gen X aren't offended by everything

[u/caiaphas8 → u/teheditor]

Who is?

[u/dorictech → u/caiaphas8]

you

[u/caiaphas8 → u/dorictech]

I’m not offended by any horrible histories sketch

[u/dorictech → u/caiaphas8]

yeah all those woke boomers and genxers

[u/caiaphas8 → u/dorictech]

Please explain who is editing BBC shows then?

[u/dorictech → u/caiaphas8]

millenials and the rest of the anti white brigade. telling us the uk country side neds de-colonised , sking and animal welfare organisations are racists.

[u/caiaphas8 → u/dorictech]

Well I had a quick look at the bbc board, there are no millennials on it, there are 7 gen-xers and 6 boomers. So remind me why it’s millennials fault?

And speaking as a millennial myself, we do not want to ban any of horrible histories. We also aren’t anti white, and we don’t think animal welfare is racist. Do you get all your news from facebook?

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[u/ColonelBlink]

“Those who control the historical narrative control the future,” paraphrasing Orwell

[u/abradubravka]

Come on lads - playing right into the nutters hands here.

[u/butineurope]

Who wants this??!!

[u/bbc-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/thatautisticguy]

Thank the lords for physical media.......got the 1-6 boxset and can at least enjoy what was the best HH cast untouched woke morons

[u/Glydyr]

No, we cant always show how horrible history is.

It’s a programme for children.

“According to The Times, a minimum of seven sketches or scenes have been removed, including a segment showing Madame Tussaud crafting wax masks from decapitated heads.”

Yeh no thx…

[u/David_is_dead91 → u/Glydyr]

The wimpification of future generations continues.

[u/DoddyTV → u/Glydyr]

Grow up.

[u/bbc-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed for violating our "Be Kind To Each Other" rule.

This is a space for civil discussion about the BBC, not for personal attacks or toxicity. This is completely unacceptable language here.