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Friday Flashback: When Norman Gunston met Mary Whitehouse

Back in 1976 Norman Gunston met the UK conservative campaigner who campaigned against the depravity of television.

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Back in 1976 Norman Gunston met UK conservative campaigner Mary Whitehouse who campaigned against bad language, obscenity and the depravity of television shows such as The Goodies, Doctor Who, Benny Hill, Dave Allen and more.

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  1. Looking at that now, well I think she made some valid points. I was too young to take in all the arguments and nuances she was making at that time, but I think time has served her points made here well, and I would put myself on the progressive left side of the spectrum and certainty no prude. If you strip out sex and innuendo out of most TV shows, well there will be very little TV left. Even a show that I think is very witty, Frasier, is full of double entendre, which gives it much of its humour, which I love. Sex used in the right context is essential for story telling, but mostly I find it unbelievable (in the context of some relationships) or just slipped in for a bit of titillation. I believe most actors hate it and rather not have it, but that is what writers keep on producing.

    I thought even Norman was stumped for a good comeback, except that sly last line, which I am sure when over her English middle class head.

  2. I’m aware of British morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse only because of the Power Electronics band Whitehouse. Either they were too extreme to be played on Rage, or Rage never had their music videos.

    I think when you look at these morality and censorship issues, especially what was able to be broadcast and what is allowed to be broadcast nowadays, it’s liberal in terms of morality or offensiveness as the channels have become more liberal in censorship. The classification laws have become more liberal over the years.

    What I do find concerning is the ABC education content regarding racial issues and white supremacism, which I find to be more toxic, disturbing and political than helpful, which is disempowering and fosters victim mentality. I think it only fuels the notion about identity politics. These foreign concepts were imported from America. I don’t think they align with Australian, or even British society at all.

  3. Nice to see Norman Gunston again. I used to watch The Goodies, Doctor Who, Benny Hill, Dave Allen and many more back in the day. Imagine a world without those shows… it would be a pretty boring one I would think.

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