Edna’s Downton race theory

SOME put its global popularity down to the gripping family dramas, others to its idyllic picture of a bygone age.

But according to Dame Edna Everage’s creator Barry Humphries, Downton Abbey has only found success in America ‘because there are no black people in it’.

The 81-year- old Australian comedian joked that the predominantly white cast made the programme more palatable for US audiences.

He made the comment in an interview with Radio Times in which he said political correctness and ‘puritanism’ was sterilising modern comedy, and claimed that the BBC blocked him from making jokes about Jeremy Corbyn unless he also poked fun at David Cameron. He said it was ‘quite important’ to him that he causes offence, adding: ‘It’s very easy to become a safe figure and tempting, too, to want to be all things to all people.’

True to this form, he said of Downton Abbey: ‘Why do you think Downton Abbey is so popular in the States? Because there are no black people in it.’

The ITV drama is broadcast on PBS in America, attracting upwards of ten million viewers for each episode.

In the fourth series a black character – American jazz musician Jack Ross, played by Gary Carr – appeared in four episodes. Humphries’ remarks also go against the fact that the fifth most watched show in the US last year was Empire, which has an almost entirely non-white cast.

Humphries also lamented the state of modern comedy. He said: ‘Imagine if the BBC tried to do Till Death Us Do Part again today, with Alf Garnett ranting against black people? It couldn’t be done. There is a new puritanism that we are experiencing, a nervousness.’

He said this became particularly apparent during a recent BBC appearance when he found executives telling him which jokes he could and couldn’t tell.

Humphries’ representatives said he was not available for comment last night.