BBC ‘policy police’ in hit comedy maker’s sights

JOHN Lloyd, the comedy producer behind TV hits such as QI, Not The Nine O’Clock News and Blackadder, has criticised the BBC for trying to make “programmes by committee” for fear of causing offence.

Lloyd, who was made a CBE in the New Year Honours list, said a culture of form-filling resulted in bland programming.

He said “sauciness” was no longer allowed before 9pm anywhere on the BBC – particularly not on BBC1.

“The commissioning, legal, compliance and editorial policy police hover over the scripts and the recordings, alert to the merest potential offence,” he said. “Heaven knows what they would have done to The Two Ronnies.”

Rules were tightened following Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand’s prank phone calls, when they left tasteless messages on the answering machine of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.