Frankie Boyle's 'vile' jokes about Royal Family divide Channel 4 viewers

02 May 2023 , 09:59
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Frankie Boyle
Frankie Boyle's 'vile' jokes about Royal Family divide Channel 4 viewers

Frankie Boyle 's programme on the Royal Family had viewers divided as many called out his "absolutely vile" jokes.

The Scottish comedian, 50, demanded it was time to "say goodbye to the monarchy" in his Channel 4 show Farewell to the Monarchy on Sunday night (30 April).

As indicated by its title, Frankie's programme does not take a favourable view towards the Royals and King Charles' upcoming Coronation.

“Let’s raise a bottle to them… filled with petrol and a burning rag," Frankie demands at the start of the show.

In the one-off episode, Boyle met with royal experts to try and gain an insight into why they love the institution.

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Yet many of Frankie's jokes divided viewers, with some hailing him "brilliant" but others calling it "absolutely vile".

Frankie Boyle's 'vile' jokes about Royal Family divide Channel 4 viewersFrankie Boyle's Farewell To The Monarchy divided viewers (PA)

"Frankie Boyle's Farewell To The Monarchy on Channel 4 was brilliant. Every clip nailing the absurdity of having a Coronation and a Royal Family then and now," said one viewer.

Another remarked: "Brilliant, loving Frankie Boyle tonight-' Henry VIII -a fat shiny murderer in women's tights'."

"The Frankie Boyle take on the Monarchy is absolutely superb. Full of intelligence, wit, and that acid tongue. Make time to watch it. It’s informed and highly educational. Brilliant," commented a third.

Someone else added: "Loved Frankie Boyle ripping into royals this evening on Channel 4 with his programme, Farewell to the Monarchy."

"I imagine there are already a whole host a red faced people in a complete fankle busy writing letters of complaint," quipped a viewer.

The show didn't go down quite so well with others, as one said: "Absolutely vile and shame on Channel 4 for giving him airtime."

"Boyle is the stain on Scotland, he needs to be cancelled," bashed another.

Someone else said: "Lowlights from Frankie Boyle... What an awful, vile man..."

Another asked: "Channel 4 Frankie Boyle ‘comedy’ suggesting petrol bombing at the Coronation... Is Terrorism funny when a leftist says it?"

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Frankie Boyle's 'vile' jokes about Royal Family divide Channel 4 viewersThe comedian hit out at the Royal Family (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Frankie Boyle's 'vile' jokes about Royal Family divide Channel 4 viewersKing Charles and Queen Camilla are set to mark the Coronation later this week (Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023)

A viewer added: "It’s amazing that Frankie Boyle is still going. And Channel 4… it used to have brilliant programming."

Frankie Boyle is known for his offensive material, but some of his dark jokes have caused outrage over the years.

He was investigated by the BBC Trust in 2008 following multiple complaints for a dark joke he made about the Queen on Mock the Week.

Impersonating the Queen's voice, he joked: “I’ve had a few medical problems this year. I’m now so old, that my p***y is haunted.”

The committee at the BBC Trust ruled that the joke was both ageist and sexist, but ultimately cleared the Scotsman of any misconduct.

In 2010, he poked fun at Katie Price's eldest son Harvey, who has partial blindness, autism and Prader-Willi syndrome, and was just eight years old at the time.

During an episode of Channel 4 series Tramodol Nights in December 2010, Frankie said: “Apparently Jordan [ Katie Price ] and Peter Andre are fighting each other over custody of Harvey. Well, eventually one of them’ll lose and have to keep him.

Frankie Boyle's 'vile' jokes about Royal Family divide Channel 4 viewersFrankie has been caught up in controversial jokes before (BBC/Zeppotron/Endemol Shine UK/Brian J Ritchie)

“I have a theory that Jordan married a cage fighter cause she needed someone strong enough to stop Harvey from f***ing her.”

The comedian faced backlash over the comments, with learning disability MenCap branding the joke "disgusting".

In March, Frankie's comedy show New World Order was axed by the BBC after six seasons.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We would like to thank Frankie Boyle and all those involved for six great series of New World Order, and we look forward to seeing what he does next on the BBC."

Frankie took to social media to comment on the news, saying: "Ah well, there’s to be no more New World Order on the BBC.

"Not surprising in the current climate, I suppose. Just very grateful to have had six series of working with the funniest people in the business."

Mia O'Hare

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