Blimey, a 1977 episode of the Minstrels has turned up. Complete with Keith Harris going through the bottom of the barrel and opening a portal to hell. Which in the terms of this show is quite an achievement. This is spectacularly offensive and wrong. Again this is 1977! 1977! youtu.be/0h4PUGy5t7E

The Black & White Minstrel Show (19/07/77)

YouTube video by Off The Turntable Music Archive

WTAF is that? I’ve heard of it and seen small clips occasionally but fuck me, who on earth thought this was normal or entertaining?

Somehow, I don't think that one will be getting a runout on BBC Four anytime soon. Partly, because ... the obvious, but also because it's just toe curling in almost every other way too (including to me, who was a kid at the time). This is the last dying flails of a certain kind of variety theatre.

Lest we forget, here's what the BBC regarded as an acceptable Othello in 1981.