I Can't Protect My Daughter From Telly Smut, Says Comedy Legend Sir David Jason

I Can't Protect My Daughter From Telly Smut, Says Comedy Legend Sir David Jason
|

PA

Comedy legend Sir David Jason says swearing and sex is now so prevalent on TV that he can't protect his 10 year-old daughter from it.

He said that even children's programmes offer no sanctuary from sexual images. And the 71- year-old revealed he often feels embarrassed watching the box with daughter, Sophie.

"The most important thing for me is that I can sit back and watch (television) with my ten-year-old daughter Sophie, without thinking, 'Whoops, why did they say that? Oh blimey' – and then be unable to get to the 'off' knob fast enough," he told the latest issue of Radio Times.

"I try to protect what she sees on television, but you can't.

"Take the adverts – I was watching SpongeBob, a favourite cartoon of ours, but suddenly a scent advert came on with this girl stripping off as she walks towards the camera. It's done for mums but they forget a lot of girls are watching these powerful images."

Sir David's most famous comic role was as Del Boy Trotter in Only Fools and Horses – one of the greatest family comedy shows of all time.

"The trouble now is we have stand-up comedians who have forgotten about innuendo," he said.

"In music hall days, and especially at the BBC, you were never allowed swearwords, so they came up with brilliant wheezes in Beyond Our Ken, The Goon Show and Round The Horne – 'Hello, I'm Julian and this is my friend Sandy'. Everyone knew what it was about and the audience filled in the gaps."

Sir David is returning to comedy for the new BBC series, The Royal Bodyguard, his first new sitcom in 20 years.

Do you agree with David?

Is it tricky to protect young children from smutty TV shows and adverts?