The BBC has taken the dramatic step of pulling an episode of its popular restoration program The Repair Shop from broadcast following complaints about a 'sexist joke' discovered within the historical materials being featured. The controversial segment focused on the repair of comedian Bob Monkhouse's handwritten joke books, which date back to the 1960s and were brought to the show by his adopted daughter Abigail Williams and his longtime writing partner Colin Edmond.
Production Employee Flags Offensive Content
According to sources speaking to The Sun, a member of the production company Ricochet, which produces The Repair Shop for the BBC, stumbled upon a joke in Monkhouse's archives that was deemed sexist. The employee reportedly took offense at the material, which was likely written during the 1960s, and raised concerns with BBC executives.
A collective decision was subsequently made to cull the entire segment from the planned broadcast. "A production employee stumbled across a joke – no doubt written in the 1960s – and took offence, believing it to be sexist," a source revealed. "They flagged the problem, and a 'collective decision' was made to cull the whole thing."
Disappointment Among Experts and Family
The cancellation has left restoration experts and Monkhouse's loved ones deeply disappointed. The episode was intended as a tribute to the beloved entertainer, who passed away in 2003 at age 75, with footage of the restoration project scheduled to air later this year.
"Experts waiting to lovingly restore the historical joke books were disheartened," the source added. "And Bob's loved ones, who had agreed to participate in the show to talk passionately about his life, were at a loss."
The Significance of Monkhouse's Joke Books
Bob Monkhouse's journals represent a remarkable piece of comedy history, containing thousands of pages of handwritten jokes alongside illustrated cartoons and doodles. He began compiling these 'running files' in the early 1960s and continued adding to them throughout his career, always carrying a couple of volumes with him to jot down fresh observations and punchlines.
In 1995, two volumes of these precious files went missing, prompting Monkhouse to publicly offer a reward for their return. After 18 months of distress, his agent received a mysterious phone call leading to their recovery. Monkhouse agreed to pay £10,000 as a reward, but police monitoring the exchange quickly arrested the individuals involved.
Following his death, the joke books were stored in suitcases under Colin Edmond's desk, having been gifted to him in Monkhouse's will.
Context Within The Repair Shop's Mission
This incident occurs against the backdrop of The Repair Shop's established reputation for restoring objects with profound sentimental value to their owners. In a recent episode that aired earlier this year, viewers praised the 'amazing' job done on a rugby relic connecting a man to his late friend, highlighting the emotional resonance the show typically achieves.
The BBC show features skilled craftspeople meticulously restoring cherished items, often evoking powerful emotional responses from participants and audiences alike. The decision to remove the Monkhouse segment represents a significant departure from this usual format.
Metro has contacted the BBC for comment regarding this development. The broadcaster has not yet issued an official statement about the pulled episode or the specific nature of the complaint.
