Curb Your Judaism

Comedian David Schneider investigates why British Jewish comedy has never been quite as successful as its American counterpart.

David explores why Jewish comics and writers have lagged behind and whether, with the airing of two new Jewish sitcoms on British television - Grandma's House and Friday Night Dinner - the tide is finally turning.

David speaks to Robert Popper, the writer of Friday Night Dinner, and to Dan Swimer who co-wrote Grandma's House. Writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran talk about their difficulties in getting a Jewish sitcom commissioned in the past.

Meera Syal discusses the contrast with British Asian comedy and why it has been so successful, while David Baddiel considers how political correctness has impacted on Jewish comedy in this country.

Finally, David speaks to one of Britain's most successful Jewish comedians, Matt Lucas, who says he's now ready to explore his own ethnicity further with his sitcom project Four Generations.