Culture 3 min read By Bethany Hadley
BBC removes Mitchell and Webb sketches from iPlayer
The BBC has confirmed that eleven sketches from Mitchell and Webb's comedy series have been removed from iPlayer, though uncut versions remain available elsewhere.
The BBC has confirmed that eleven sketches from the comedy series That Mitchell and Webb Look have been removed from its iPlayer streaming service. The corporation said the edits were made as part of a routine review of its archive, though the full, uncut versions of the episodes remain available on other platforms.
The removed material includes sketches that depicted characters in blackface and others that satirised racism. Among the affected scenes is a recurring sketch featuring the comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb as two actors discussing a fictional production, in which one appears in blackface makeup. Another removed segment is understood to have mocked the way racism was portrayed on television.
The BBC said in a statement that the sketches had been taken out of the versions hosted on iPlayer, but that the complete episodes could still be found on other services. The corporation did not specify which platforms continue to carry the uncut versions, nor did it give a precise date for when the edits were made. It described the removals as part of its ongoing assessment of historical content.
The decision has drawn attention because it affects a well-known British comedy series that originally aired between 2006 and 2010. The show, written by and starring Mitchell and Webb, was a sketch programme that frequently used satire and absurdity to comment on social and cultural issues. Some of its most famous characters, including the sports commentators and the two actors discussing their craft, became part of popular culture during its run.
The removal of the sketches comes amid wider scrutiny of how broadcasters handle older comedy material that may now be considered offensive. Several British television programmes from past decades have been re-edited or given content warnings on streaming platforms in recent years. The BBC has previously said it reviews its archive to ensure that content remains appropriate for modern audiences while trying to preserve the historical record.
Critics of such edits argue that removing material can obscure the context in which it was made and limit the ability of audiences to understand changing attitudes. Supporters say that streaming services have a responsibility to avoid presenting racist imagery without sufficient framing. The BBC has not indicated whether it plans to add content warnings or contextual information to the affected episodes on iPlayer.
The full series of That Mitchell and Webb Look remains available for purchase or streaming on other platforms, where the sketches in question have not been removed. The BBC declined to comment further on the specific reasons for each individual cut, saying only that the review process was continuing.
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