Round The Horne

Round The Horne repeat 'broke BBC standards'

A 52-year-old episode of radio comedy Round The Horne has broken current BBC standards because of its potentially racist stereotypes, the broadcaster's complaints department has ruled. The episode, from 1967, featured white stars such as Hugh Paddick and Betty Marsden mimicking black characters in an extended parody of the 1950 movie Young Man With A Horn. However, in its newly released findings, the unit stopped short of a ban because of Round The Horne's status as a comedy classic, with the show recently voted best radio comedy of all time.

From the archive: Round the Horne reviewed, June 1965

This show's air of maverick, matey rudeness provides a perfect formula for mockery without tears.

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Julian, Sandy, Rambling Syd Rumpo and all. It seems astonishing now that the show's host, Kenneth Horne, combined this role with a career as sales director of Triplex glass.