Veteran comedian Stan Boardman has expressed his distress after being abruptly removed from the lineup of a literary festival, becoming the latest figure to face the repercussions of so-called cancel culture over historical comedy content.
Sudden Removal from Festival Lineup
The 88-year-old comedy icon, renowned for his appearances on classic television shows such as Through the Keyhole and as the subject of This Is Your Life during his peak fame in the 1980s and 1990s, was scheduled to appear at the Liverpool Book Festival at BOXPARK on March 8. He was set to discuss his autobiography, but organisers decided to pull him from the billing following feedback from the public regarding past material that has been considered inappropriate or offensive.
Family Seeks Clarification and Defends Legacy
Stan's son, Paul Boardman, who assisted in writing the memoir, has publicly questioned the decision, stating they have written to the festival organisers to inquire about the specifics of the complaints. "We've written to them and asked, 'How many emails? What was said and when was it sent? What was the context?' We'd love to know that," Paul told the Echo. He emphasised that Stan has been used to promote the event extensively, and they deserve transparency to defend his reputation.
Paul highlighted that his father shows contrition for any unintended harm, noting that Stan never intended to hurt anyone's feelings on stage. "Stan shows a lot of contrition regarding that, saying he never would have thought he was hurting people and would never go out intentionally to hurt somebody's feelings on stage. I think a lot of comics back then, a lot of people in the 70s, weren't that educated about it," he explained.
Distinction from Other Comedians
In defending his father's legacy, Paul drew a clear line between Stan Boardman and other comedians known for more controversial material. "My dad wasn't a Bernard Manning. He never used the n-word. He wasn't like that. OK, he would do jokes about the Germans, but we all know now that he's got a good reason to have a little bit of fun at the Germans. It's never in a nasty way. He loves German people. He spent national service there!" Paul insisted, referencing Stan's famous World War II joke about "the Germans bombed our chippy," which initially propelled him to fame on Opportunity Knocks.
Confusion and Upset Over Decision
The sudden axing has left Stan Boardman confused and upset, especially since he performed at the same event last year without any issues. Paul described the festival as a "brilliant" thing for their home city of Liverpool, but the decision has caused significant distress to the family. "It has just caused a lot of 'upset' to the family that he will no longer be there," he added, underscoring the emotional impact of the cancellation.
This incident adds to ongoing debates about cancel culture in the entertainment industry, with recent headlines featuring comedians like Ricky Gervais and Russell Kane speaking out on the topic. As Stan Boardman's case unfolds, it raises questions about how historical comedy material is reassessed in modern contexts and the balance between artistic expression and social sensitivity.
