In the Britain of the 1960s everyone could have a chuckle at family comedies about plummy vicars. The comedy became more contentious in 1979 when Monty Python released "Life of Brian" and upset the Christian community. These days though, that community harks back to the educated comedy of the Pythons while stand up comedians base a whole show on Christians and Christianity. To be a Christian is to be an object of ridicule. That is Ann Widdecombe's contention anyway and this documentary is her attempt to explore comedy in the 201x's.
So is Ann right or is she just an old fuddy duddy who can't face reality? I can't give an opinion on the outcome of the program as that is up to the viewer. What I will say though is that the show has been well researched and the interviewees all have something valid to say – both for and against. We get to see a former Archbishop of Canterbury, a political comedian and a number of other figures from the world of British comedy.
Widdecombe presents the program in a reasonably balanced manner without leaving you in any doubt as to her position. Overall I think the program is biased towards her viewpoint but then her viewpoint, after all, it isn't meant to be "that" balanced. The object of a documentary such as this is to get the viewer thinking and it does that. None of the interviewees scores a direct hit but there is plenty of food for though provided. I don't think the content will change many people's minds but it is stimulating nonetheless.
