Peter Kay on Strictly Come Dancing – it doesn’t get much more family friendly than that.
The Bolton funny man is one of the nation’s most popular comic performers, with his brand of universal humour and ‘remember when’ schtick. Whether it is sold-out tours, television shows, or charity pop singles, the 43-year-old always seems to strike gold as far as the public are concerned.
He made a special guest appearance on Strictly over the weekend, as the show came to Blackpool for its annual visit to the seaside town. Kay was on hand to read out the terms and conditions to the voting public, and enjoyed a joke or two with the dancers and celebrity guests in the process.
Most of his trademark northern humour went down a storm, with both studio and television audience alike, but his remarks towards Judge Rinder caused concern to some who found them homophobic in tone.
Using the old gag of jumping away as if he’d been pinched on the backside a la Eric Morecambe, Kay remarked to Rinder: “Hey steady! Watch it m’lud! Watch it…This case is firmly closed!”
As you can see below, it was received with disappointment and annoyance by many watching at home:
Never thought Peter Kay was funny. Seems he can only get a laugh when he rehashes 'jokes' that are not only old but disgustingly homophobic.
— 🌻🦊☀️🎭The Song of Afigles🎭☀️🦊🌻 (@SaekoKiller) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/mattbeeching/status/800291037105233920
@peterkay_co_uk 💜 you dearly but your joke on @bbcstrictly was casual homophobia. Bums against the wall jokes are also 10 years out of date.
— Dan Robertson (@dan_robertson1) November 20, 2016
@peterkay_co_uk disappointed at the casual homophobic joke telling on Strictly on Sat night. I thought you'd moved on since the 70's.
— MimiJ (@MimiJ9) November 20, 2016
peter kay being homophobic is fine ''apparently'' @bbcstrictly
— Jay (@JBuckley112) November 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/TagoMago1970/status/800654906986205184
That said, just as many were ready to defend the comic and reprimand the complainants:
As a gay man, nothing wrong with Peter Kay's joke to Rinder. Stop saying all small comments are homophobic or there'll never be progress.
— Glen Bartlett (@glenbartlett) November 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/Colmci17/status/800318235765653505
https://twitter.com/Aimitweets/status/800431182324252672
https://twitter.com/SkermanJo/status/800306707624763393
RE: the Peter Kay controversy. The man doesn't have a homophobic bone in his body. As he said in his book "I'm not scared of my house".
— Joezempic 💉 (@JoeWritesThings) November 20, 2016
Peter kay is not homophobic. The end.
— T. A. Joyce aka👜 🌈 lgbtq friend (@anniehb2268) November 20, 2016
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