BBC removes 11 sketches from Mitchell and Webb show on iPlayer

The BBC has removed 11 sketches from the iPlayer version of the comedy series 'That Mitchell and Webb Look', stating the edits were made in consultation with the programme makers to include only sketches that "still work today". The series, which originally aired between 2006 and 2010, was recently added to the streaming platform to mark its 20th anniversary. According to reports, the removed sketches include segments featuring blackface, jokes about Jimmy Saville, and a rude portrayal of Gandhi. The BBC confirmed the edit in a statement, explaining that for this 20-year-old show, they have included the sketches that still work today and not the ones that do not. The statement did not specify whether the show's stars, David Mitchell and Robert Webb, were directly consulted on the specific cuts. The decision has prompted debate about censorship and cultural sensitivity. Comedian Dom Joly described the move as "classic BBC overkill" and "hysterical censorship", arguing that the show's intent was not racist. He suggested that if a warning was necessary, it would be patronising.