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Comedian Barry Cryer fails to see the funny side of modern sitcoms

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By John Glenday, Reporter

June 18, 2013 | 2 min read

Veteran comedian Barry Cryer, a Morecambe and Wise regular, has spoken out against today’s sitcoms; branding them at worst nasty and at best unfunny.

Cryer claims that sitcom writing has regressed by at least 30 years to the extent that it is ‘no longer a laughing matter’, singling out the ‘positively homophobic’ ITV show Vicious for particular scorn.

Starring Sir Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi Vicious has been panned by critics Commenting on the shows failings Cryer stated: “A sitcom with two old gays could be really good and moving. With two great actors in Sir Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi it should be fantastic.

“But it was insult, insult, insult every other line. You don’t believe in them. You don’t like them, for a start. It was positively homophobic. It made John Inman look restrained."

To get viewers smiling again Cryer is urging writers to focus once again on creating ‘great’ characters in inherently funny situations - and not get bogged down in trying too hard to concoct jokes.

Speaking to the Radio Times Cryer said: “We’re living in an era of back-to-basics sitcoms and it’s no laughing matter.

“From Vicious to Mrs Brown’s Boys to The Wright Way, the old-fashioned situation comedy is suddenly all the rage again."

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