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AIBU

Are the broadcasting corporations encouraging smut and innuendo?

(74 Posts)
Sago Sun 01-Dec-24 11:37:52

We are all very aware of Greg Wallace and the recent allegations.

It did however get me thinking of two particular famous TV incidents
(there are many more examples).

The first was the totally cringeworthy moment when Mary Berry asked the then Duchess of Cambridge if she would like to”a little squirt” on top.
The second is Dame Pru Leiths famous “ two holes” comments.

Imagine if Greg Wallace or Paul Hollywood had made these comments, it in my opinion it is wrong that women can get away with this and not men.

Also the BBC etc are clearly encouraging this smut and innuendo, in my humble opinion it is unnecessary and embarrassing, good TV shouldn’t need to do this.

AIBU?

NanKate Sun 01-Dec-24 11:46:24

What about Miriam Margolyes? I have to admit she makes me laugh, but she does go too far at times.

RosiesMaw2 Sun 01-Dec-24 11:49:40

These clearly went right over my head!
To the pure all things are pure?😇😇😇

Wyllow3 Sun 01-Dec-24 11:50:57

I'd clarify those as a bit of sexual innudendo not in anyway comparable to Greg Wallace. as for it being the BBC, goodness me, it happens on all channels in comedy shows regularly.
How were those remarks offensive to women?

The key point on Wallace is that he used his power to regularly distress and offend women over a long period of time.

eazybee Sun 01-Dec-24 12:43:07

Perhaps innuendo is in the ear of the listener.
Mary Berry and Prue Leith's remarks meant nothing to me, other than the obvious.

Calendargirl Sun 01-Dec-24 12:55:39

I can’t imagine the sainted Mary Berry intended anything smutty with her comment to the D of C.

What else could she say?

(If I saw the clip, it certainly didn’t register).

And haven’t watched Bake Off for years.

Allira Sun 01-Dec-24 12:56:28

The first was the totally cringeworthy moment when Mary Berry asked the then Duchess of Cambridge if she would like to”a little squirt” on top.
How else do you describe a squirt of cream on top of a cake?
Or npmanage to cook with nuts without mentioning the word?

The second is Dame Pru Leiths famous “ two holes” comments.
Prue Leith said that in all innocence as a useful baking tip. It was the men on the programme who started sniggering
because they interpreted it in a male way of course.

Nothing like the misogyny coming from some men on TV.

Allira Sun 01-Dec-24 12:57:57

Perhaps innuendo is in the ear of the listener.
This

And
The key point on Wallace is that he used his power to regularly distress and offend women over a long period of time.

David49 Sun 01-Dec-24 13:25:58

Innuendo on a comedy show is fine in moderation, just why the directors think it is OK push the boundaries on other programmes needs explaining. (If it was deliberate)

As for Greg Wallace, like many celebrities, including Al Fayed think they are omnipotent and can say and do what they want. There were probably a lot more indiscretions that havn’t been reported

Elegran Sun 01-Dec-24 13:33:50

Many of us are old enough to remember Max Wall. Then there was Kenneth Williams and the Carry On films. Comedians and wits have always included smut and innuendo, right back to antiquity. There is Viking graffiti in Maeshowe, which can only be entered in single file bent over in a low tunnel. It says something like ""Ingebjork the fair widow - many a woman has walked stooping in here a very showy person" signed by "Erlingr" I suspect Erlingr may have followed Ingebjork along that passageway with her short tunic showing all.

Pantomime - that staple for innocent aunties to take young children to at Christmas - is full of double meanings. I am willing to bet that the panto which Katek mentioned in another thread (her wicked fairy queen has managed to tear 20 inches in three layers of her net costume a couple of days before the first performance) is not immune.

If the hearers understand the innuendo, they already are aware of the second meaning, so are not being corrupted. If they don't understand it then they won't notice that it even is innuendo, so are not being corrupted in that case either.
Both of the instances in the OP may be innuendo, but are more likely to be exactly what they say. A sense of proportion is a useful thing.

Undisguised smut is different because it can be understood by anyone who hears it. There is more of this around than innuendo at the moment Those who broadcast it, online as well as on the airways, don't seem to have the subtlety to make it the least bit clever and amusing, just rude.

Ilovecheese Sun 01-Dec-24 13:35:37

Wyllow3

I'd clarify those as a bit of sexual innudendo not in anyway comparable to Greg Wallace. as for it being the BBC, goodness me, it happens on all channels in comedy shows regularly.
How were those remarks offensive to women?

The key point on Wallace is that he used his power to regularly distress and offend women over a long period of time.

Agree

Allira Sun 01-Dec-24 13:37:48

Sensible post Elegran

Innuendo is in the mind of the listener.

Talking to an embarrassed woman contestant about a sex act he and his wife had performed that morning, as Wallace did, is in a different category altogether.

Cumbrianmale56 Sun 01-Dec-24 15:01:28

British humoir was always based on double entendres and puns, it was what made it so good. I think an act like The Two Ronnies would have been far less funny and offended far more people if they didn't use them.

Sago Sun 01-Dec-24 15:01:47

I am not making comparisons to the behaviour of Greg Wallace, merely stating that there is a lot of smut and innuendo that is obviously encouraged by the producers/directors.

Allira Sun 01-Dec-24 15:07:45

The problem is that it's not possible to make a straightforward innocent statement such as the ones Mary Berry and Prue Leith made without someone reading more into it.

Wyllow3 Sun 01-Dec-24 15:08:02

What makes you say its the BBC doing this specifically when we have huge numbers of TV companies and massive amounts of production companies?

David49 Sun 01-Dec-24 15:59:01

On a live production the things may slip but on a recorded programme like bake off it’s up to the directors to judge what is acceptable.

Dinahmo Sun 01-Dec-24 16:08:49

The Goon show (how many of you remember that?) had a character called Hugh Jampton!

I suspect that many of the programmes that we listened to in our youth would be frowned upon today as being far too risqué

Galaxy Sun 01-Dec-24 16:46:26

I think that as he was employed for many years it will have been well known by many. I think there is culpability for others in the organisation. I am afraid I am beginning to have some concerns about the culture within the BBC.

ExDancer Sun 01-Dec-24 16:57:42

For pity's sake ladies - grow up and deal with it!

petra Sun 01-Dec-24 17:00:20

Galaxy

I think that as he was employed for many years it will have been well known by many. I think there is culpability for others in the organisation. I am afraid I am beginning to have some concerns about the culture within the BBC.

I would imagine the vast majority of the males went to public school. Just an observation of mine.
Look how many years they got away with Captain Pugwash: pure private schoolboy humour.
And it was for children.

petra Sun 01-Dec-24 17:06:38

ExDancer

For pity's sake ladies - grow up and deal with it!

Easier said than done in some situations.
Most of the programs you see Greg Wallace in are produced by outside companies
If your a person who wants to progress in the industry you won’t make it if your seen as a trouble maker.

I once had a boss who would often tell me that he had just had sex with me in his head. I would just tell him and that’s where it’s going to stay 😂

rafichagran Sun 01-Dec-24 17:25:11

I am of the age where I have worked with smutty men. When young I got upset, but I learnt to ignore it, it stopped after a while as the pathetic little creatures were getting nowhere, and did not have a audience.

Allira Sun 01-Dec-24 17:26:53

Dinahmo

The Goon show (how many of you remember that?) had a character called Hugh Jampton!

I suspect that many of the programmes that we listened to in our youth would be frowned upon today as being far too risqué

Well, I must be dim or led a sheltered life because I keep saying that and confused!

Jaxjacky Sun 01-Dec-24 17:53:53

A totally sanitised world where every word was analysed would be incredibly boring.
No Sago I don’t think the BBC or any other MSM broadcaster are encouraging it, your ‘smut’ would probably be my good laugh and I’m very grateful for friends and family who think the same.