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Thousands of viewers have complained that the Christmas Day show by comedy duo Matt Lucas and David Walliams on BBC1 was racist.

The spoof documentary set in an airport and called Come Fly With Me featured the pair as a range of minority characters.

Lucas darkens his face and wears a beard to play a Muslim worker called Taaj. He also adopts a strong West Indian accent to play a black woman called Precious who works in the coffee shop.



Darkened faces: David Walliams as Middle Eastern passenger liaison officer Moses in Come Fly With Me

Walliams’s roles include a Middle Eastern passenger liaison officer called Moses.

However, many viewers failed to see the funny side and took to internet forums to complain about the programme – the first of a six-part series – likening it to ‘a minstrel show’.


One wrote on his Twitter site: ‘Watching replay of Come Fly With Me. Black & White Minstrel Show comes to mind.’

Another called FullMetalAnnie said: ‘Come Fly with Me. Weak, uninspired parody that stepped clumsily over the line into overt racism. Stupid and Unfunny.’




Foreign accents: Matt Lucas as coffee shop worker 'Precious'

Samgoodby drew a parallel with the humour of controversial stand-up comedian Frankie Boyle, who has been attacked by campaign groups for discriminatory remarks in his Channel 4 show Tramadol Nights, saying: ‘The thing about Tramadol Nights and Come Fly with Me is, regardless of whether they’re offensive or not, ultimately they’re not funny.’

Another wrote: ‘Just watched Come Fly With Me? It’s like you woke up on a 1978 National Front comedy revue.’

The show, broadcast at 10pm, was the second most-watched show on Christmas Day, attracting an audience of 10.3million.

BBC1 bosses said they had not yet established how many complained to the corporation.



Stereotypes: Lucas as 'Flylo' worker Taaj (left) and Walliams as airline boss Omar

Lucas and Walliams, who were launched to success in the sketch show Little Britain, defended Come Fly With Me, saying that comedy has always pushed boundaries.

‘Comedy has a social function and part of that function is to ruffle feathers,’ said Lucas.

‘But it’s not as scatological as Little Britain. There are no F-words or vomiting or peeing.’

On Twitter he added: ‘Like in Little Britain we try to reflect, affectionately, the multicultural Britain we love. No offence is intended. x.’

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Come Fly With Me had a huge audience and many people loved it.

‘Matt and David play all the characters and they are representing a multicultural society. They are not setting out to offend people.’


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... z19M5DLcEg

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