“Monty Python” alumni John Cleese defended his new show tackling “cancel culture” and said “wokes” won’t like it because they are “authoritarians” and “people who believe [they] are purer than they actually are.”
The 82-year-old actor/comedian took to Twitter Monday following his appearance on BBC Radio 4’s popular “Today” program on Monday where he talked about that his new unnamed show on GB News would “never get on the BBC.”
“I’m sorry, can we just stop to appreciate that [John Cleese] went on the BBC today to talk about how he would be cancelled if he went on the BBC and there is no irony?” the person tweeted.
“It would depend on the subject, wouldn’t it,” Cleese replied. “The show I have in mind for GB News would NEVER get on to the BBC. Are you able to understand that? I think…probably not.”
It’s content
There’s a massive about of important information that gets censored, both in TV and in the press
In my new show, I’ll be talking about a lot of it
You should be prepared to be shocked https://t.co/RyYEo34Fhe
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) October 10, 2022
“It’s content,” he added, when another person asked if he thought he will ever be invited back on the BBC after his GB show makes air. “There’s a massive [amount] of important information that gets censored, both in TV and in the press. In my new show, I’ll be talking about a lot of it. You should be prepared to be shocked.”
When another person suggested he was going to be in “*such* fantastic company on GB News,” the superstar replied that he thought “‘guilt by by association’ went out with Communism.”
I thought ‘guilt by by association’ went out with Communism
Why don’t you watch the first couple of programmes ?
You’re a bit like Mary Whitehouse trying to get Life of Brian cancelled before they’d even seen the script https://t.co/obsPcdYpt6
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) October 10, 2022
“Why don’t you watch the first couple of programmes,” the comedian explained. “You’re a bit like Mary Whitehouse trying to get Life of Brian cancelled before they’d even seen the script.”
Later, Cleese replied to one person who said they were willing to keep an open mind about it.
I appreciate your open mindedness, Harry
But beware the ‘wokes’. They won’t like it !
Like all people who believe thet are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians
Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them https://t.co/6hzfQkH8rg
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) October 10, 2022
“I appreciate your open mindedness, Harry,” the actor wrote. “But beware the ‘wokes’. They won’t like it! Like all people who believe [they] are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians. Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them.”
During Cleese’s appearance on the BBC Radio Monday, he said his show on GB News would be canceled during first “five minutes” if it was on the BBC, Variety noted.
“I was approached and I didn’t know who they were,” Cleese said of GB News. “I don’t know much about modern television because I’ve pretty much given up on it — I mean, English television. Then, I met one or two of the people concerned and had a dinner with them and I liked them very much.”
“What they said was, ‘People say it’s a right-wing channel, but it’s a free speech channel,’” he added. “The nice thing about talking to the GB News audience is that they may not be used to hearing the sort of things I’ll be saying.”
Cleese admitted no one from the BBC had approached him about doing a show and made it clear if they did he’d “say ‘Not on your Nelly.’ I wouldn’t get five minutes into the first show before I got canceled or censored.”
The comedian will work with political satirist and comedian Andrew Doyle on the show that will hit the air waves in 2023, the outlet noted. No title has yet to be released.
