Martin Clunes has hit back at cancel culture and admitted that his show with Neil Morrissey – Men Behaving Badly – would no longer be acceptable in today’s society.
Clunes and Morrisey starred as boozy flatmates Tony Smart and Gary Strang in the BBC comedy sitcom back in 1992, with the show quickly becoming a success.
The co-stars and off-screen friends are once again reuniting and touring France for their travel series Neil and Martin’s Bon Voyage.
Their new show will mark the first time the pair have been back on screen together in years, despite many offers from network producers.
Speaking to Radio Times, Clunes admitted their latest programmes aren’t just a “crass illegitimate child of Men Behaving Badly”.
Morrissey added that the programme will see the pair travel around France and see some of the local wonders of where the star currently lives.
The star admitted the programme would not be made today
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When asked if Men Behaving Badly would be made now, Clunes noted: “The world has changed. Social media has made journalists of everyone – there’s no nuance left, everything is polarised.
“Most of what we said was inappropriate, but it was funny because we’d said it. Whereas now, if you say something inappropriate, that’s you finished, because this panel of judge-journalists on social media will have your guts for garters.”
Noting on whether risqué humour is finished in the current culture, he added: “Everything sort of survives, doesn’t it, though?
“I mean, look at what Ricky Gervais does. We love that he pushes boundaries. But we were never like that. It was very gentle, Men Behaving Badly.”
The star agreed and noted jokes were restrictive
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Morrissey agreed: “It’ll depend on the zeitgeist as to what jokes you’re allowed to make these days without getting flak for it.”
Clunes’ comments shine through specifically when it comes to the initial pilot episode which was produced by Harry Enfield - and was later “abandoned”.
Referencing the show’s director, John Howard Davis, Clunes touched on the episode which never made it to air and said: “John also directed the abysmal pilot of Men Behaving Badly with Harry Enfield that no one has ever seen.
“We remade it. Dare I say it was badly directed. He went on to direct Fawlty Towers the most other thing.
“And at one point, he actually said to me be more like John Cleese because their idea that it wouldn't be funny unless there was a clash that we had to, as characters flatmates, it had to be,” Clunes told The Sun.
The actors’ latest series will air on UKTV’s Gold, which will send them on a hilarious road trip to and across France.
The friends will star in their new docuseries travelling around France
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Ahead of its release, Morrissey stated: “It’s fantastic we have this golden opportunity to reunite so I can introduce my pal Martin to all the things I love so much about France, along with some Gallic treasures I’ve always wanted to see.
“I've fallen in love with this country, its glorious food, its delicious wine, and knowing Martin has an EU passport, I'm fairly certain he'll be relocating here once I've finished with him.”
