Sir David Jason, 84, in blistering take on modern-day TV as he calls for return to old 'rules': 'Gone too far!'
WATCH HERE: David Jason makes surprise appearance at auction for legendary Del Boy hat
Sir David Jason, 84, has pulled no punches with his honest opinions on today's approach to television.
The iconic actor has starred in some of the country's best-loved and timeless series, from comedies such as Only Fools and Horses and Open All Hours, to dramas like A Touch of Frost.
And the 84-year-old has continued to work on-screen in 2024, starring opposite Jay Blades in their crafts show, David and Jay's Touring Toolshed.
However, having spent decades working in TV, Jason has bore witness to numerous changes and shifts in attitudes over the years.
These never-ending changes to television remain a contentious debate to this day, with the introduction of trigger warnings and political correctness having a major impact on modern-day projects.
Speaking in a new interview, Jason has opened up on another changing trend he's noticed in television series in recent years - and he's not best pleased.
David Jason (second from left) played Del Boy in Only Fools
PA
“I found a book of rules in my house, from 1947, and what it was, was a rule book for writers, directors, actors, you name it, from the hierarchy of the BBC telling you what you’re not allowed to say because you might offend people," he said on the Plot Twist podcast.
Reflecting on the book's contents and how it would struggle to apply to modern TV, he continued: "Blimey, if they were around today!
"The rationale is we’ve gone the other way. We’ve superseded it. In order to be a working class person in television today you use the expletives constantly, all the time.
"And some of them are pretty vulgar, in my opinion. So everybody is using that, constantly, all the time."
David Jason has starred in some of the UK's biggest shows
PA
The Del Boy actor continued: "That’s filtered through to everyday language, so young people today are using all the language that we were banned from saying in everyday speak.
"The problem with that is, is that you’ve given up manners and you’ve given up respect for your fellow man, for your fellow woman," Jason went on before slapping down arguments in support of said changes.
"The argument was ‘But it’s in common use, it’s been there in Shakespeare’s time’, well that’s not good enough," he protested.
"If you tried to follow the rule book today you wouldn’t have a show at all. I think we’ve gone too far away from that book of rules."
Jason isn't the only legendary actor to unleash rather damning takes on the state of modern-day media after spending decades in the industry.
Dame Judi Dench, 89, spoke to Radio Times earlier this year about theatre audiences being given trigger warnings over the content of centuries-old plays.
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David Jason is best-known for his iconic role as Del Boy TrotterGetty“Do they do that? My God, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before King Lear or Titus Andronicus," Dench mocked.
"I can see why they exist," she mused before adding: "But if you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked.
"Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?" she questioned.
Jeremy Clarkson is just one other famous face with decades of experience on TV who's pulled no punches with their verdict on politically correct TV.
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