Mischief and monstrosity Little Britain Methodological Issues 1. British context 2.Roles and Functions of Characters 3.Pathology and prejudice 4.Re-emergence of the freak show Margaret Montgomerie

1.The British Context The rhetoric of enablement and tactical practices. 1.2005 Ouch poll TV’s most popular disabled characters 2. 2005 Ofcom report

1.The British Context

The rhetoric of

enablement and

tactical practices.

1.2005 Ouch poll

TV’s most popular

disabled characters

2. 2005 Ofcom report

The BBC Ouch poll: First: Timmy South Park Second: Dr Kerry Weaver ER Third: Andy Pipkin Little Britain Also ran: Davros Dr Who

2. OFCOM Report 2005 The representation and portrayal of people with disabilities on terrestial television The proportion of people/characters with disabilities fulfilling major roles in sampled programmes had decreased since 2002 (14) Proportion of people in incidental and minor roles had increased. Commonly easily recognisable disabilities(14)

The proportion of people/characters with disabilities fulfilling major roles in sampled programmes had decreased since 2002 (14)

Proportion of people in incidental and minor roles had increased. Commonly easily recognisable disabilities(14)

Incidental roles Daffyd only Gay in the Village sketch (1:5)

Background for dramas of non disabled St Gods Hospital Sketches

3. Dodgy discourse and the moral low ground

Cheats, tricksters and frauds

If you ask me I see no reason why you can’t do your own cooking and cleaning. And that TV is going off. And no more chocolate or potato crisps. And why don’t you get yourself a job? There’s plenty of things you can do. First thing tomorrow I’m going to take you down the job centre and find you something.

If you ask me I see no reason why you can’t do your own cooking and cleaning. And that TV is going off. And no more chocolate or potato crisps. And why don’t you get yourself a job? There’s plenty of things you can do. First thing tomorrow I’m going to take you down the job centre and find you something.

International symbol for Accessibility or metaphor for being pushed about?

Methodological conclusions That the producers of broadcast media are still evading their responsibility to people with disabilities. Shame and disgust stifle effective critique That popular comedies flirt with a wide range of often contradictory discourses. The polysemy of popular texts such as Little Britain needs to be discussed and re-appropriated by Disability studies academics and activists.

That the producers of broadcast media are still evading their responsibility to people with disabilities.

Shame and disgust stifle effective critique

That popular comedies flirt with a wide range of often contradictory discourses.

The polysemy of popular texts such as Little Britain needs to be discussed and re-appropriated by Disability studies academics and activists.