Carry On! films face censorship shake-up as TV boss slam Ofcom's 'Nanny State' rules

airing nostalgic favourites like the films, featuring beloved stars like Kenneth Williams, and , are increasingly finding themselves caught in a tug-of-war between upholding Britain's comedy legacy and adhering to evolving broadcasting standards.

Networks such as Talking Pictures TV and Rewind TV, both known for showcasing vintage cinema and classic television, often wrestle with whether to cut or censor older content that may now be seen as controversial.

Though considered niche, both channels boast dedicated audiences. In March alone, Talking Pictures TV reached 3.3 million viewers, while Rewind TV drew in 1.4 million, according to BARB figures.

Ofcom regulations on potentially offensive content are shaped by public surveys conducted every five years, with language classified as mild, moderate, or strong. Terms labelled as "strong" must be backed by "clear and strong contextual justification" before they can be aired.

It was that revealed critics are arguing that the evolving nature of language and social norms means that TV channels are being held to a constantly changing set of standards. The outlet explained that words like "t**ser," "sl**" and "t**t" have previously been taken out of Carry On Laughing, Please Sir!, Whose Line is it Anyway? and On The Buses, for example.

Speaking to the outlet, Jonathan Moore, head of Rewind TV, argued that the regulator's approach means that 'classic programming' is at risk of being edited beyond recognition as worried TV heads try to self-censor. He added that he fears this could lead to some classic films becoming 'extinct'.

"People are more resilient than Ofcom seems to think," he said. "It's the nanny state in action, really." He added that the "last thing" broadcasters want is a fine because they have "let something slip" and admitted he feels "very nervous" because his channel potentially goes "further" than it should due to "that fear".

According to the Telegraph, people are now calling on Ofcom to grant an exemption for "classic comedies", with the idea being compared to how cars can be exempt from MOTs and road tax if they are over 40 years old.

If this were to happen to "old-school programmes", so they can avoid "language restrictions", they would have to provide viewers with an adequate warning about the content in advance.

Carry On films, which ran from 1958 to 1992, are considered a cornerstone of British comedy heritage but even when they were first released they shocked censors. Released in 2012, files show that many were considered too bawdy for the time.

For instance, in the 1971 film Carry On Henry, censors demanded 17 changes because "every joke has a sexual meaning". Meanwhile, Carry On Cleo was ordered to cut a scene where Sid James's Mark Antony is on top of Amanda Barrie's Cleopatra "so we don't see him wriggling his legs".