Funnyman Day helped create the iconic 90s sketch show watched by millions but has now hit out at the “woke brigade” for sucking the life out of laughs
Fast Show legend Simon Day says Brits are “sick” of cancel culture and wants to revive risky comedy on telly.
The 63-year-old funnyman, who helped create the iconic 90s sketch show watched by millions, hit out at the “woke brigade” for sucking the life out of laughs. His classic BBC series was slapped with a trigger warning on iPlayer last year over “discriminatory language”.
But Simon insists comedy should be about gags first, not tiptoeing around thin-skinned snowflakes. Speaking on the Scarred For Life podcast, he said: “I think people are sick of the cancelling stuff, because it has gone too far.
“I’m not saying it’s not right, there’s loads of stuff that was terrible.
“Like someone will show you a really horrible bit which is nasty like a Bernard Manning thing, but then there are 12 things that are really funny but may not be PC.
“People take offence at everything. We are in a culture where you can’t offend people.”
Simon, who played fan-favourite characters including Billy Bleach and eco-warrior Dave Angel, admitted he even held back jokes in the 90s over fears they would upset viewers.
He said: “I’ve always been like that. My wife would say, ‘What are you worried about?’ I’d be like, ‘I can’t say that. People will get upset.’
“My character Billy Bleach, I was going to be a lot more risqué with that. But I just thought I can’t say all that about women.”
The comic reunited with co-stars Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse and John Thomson for a live tour in 2024 and again in 2025 – and reckons the show could still work today.
He added: “All anyone says to me is, ‘You can’t do it anymore.’ Well we can do the Fast Show, the Fast Show is fine.”
The BBC has flagged some episodes with warnings, including sketches featuring controversial language and characters – but Simon believes most of the show still stands up.