Only Fools and Horses legend David Jason says TV has become too "vulgar"
"The problem with that is that you've given up manners and you've given up respect for your fellow man."
As he promotes his new memoir This Time Next Year, Only Fools and Horses icon David Jason has criticised some modern TV, as he says in straying from the previous rule book for what could or couldn't be said, it has become "vulgar".
Speaking on the Plot Twist podcast, Jason revealed that Only Fools and Horses writer John Sullivan had to get creative with Del Boy's now-famous insults, such as plonker, wally and dipstick, to get around the BBC's decency rule book, explaining what was and wasn't allowed to be said on the broadcaster.
Speaking about the book, Jason said: "I found a book of rules in my house from 1947, and what it was, was a rule book for writers, directors, actors, you name it, from the hierarchy of the BBC that told you what you're not allowed to say because you might offend people. Cor blimey, if they were around today!"
He continued: "If you tried to follow the rule book today you wouldn't have a show at all. I think we've gone too far away from that book of rules.
"In order to not offend the audience you were given this set of rules that you had to abide by, which meant writers, actors, directors, you weren't allowed to say anything about religion or religious people, it's all there."
Jason continued: "The rationale being we've gone the other way. We've lost that rule book, or we've superseded it, or whatever. In order to be a working class person in television today, you use the expletives constantly, all the time.
"And some of them are pretty vulgar, in my opinion. So everybody is using that, constantly, all the time.
Read more:
- Ghosts star Lolly Adefope likens The Franchise role to Kitty
- This Country reunion confirmed for Daisy May Cooper's Am I Being Unreasonable? season 2
"And that's filtered through to everyday language, so young people today are using all the language that we were banned from saying in everyday speak.
"Well, the problem with that is that you've given up manners and you've given up respect for your fellow man, fellow woman, call it what you like.
"Because the argument was, 'But it's in common use, it's been there in Shakespeare's time'. Well, that's not good enough."
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
While promoting his memoir, Jason also recently said that he was "slightly upset" by the fact that playing Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses appears to be "the only thing people remember me for".
He said: "I'm delighted in one way that it has reached so many people and they've enjoyed what I’ve done with the character, but I’ve done so many other things that people seem to have forgotten about."
Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
