Gary Lineker big brass balls?

As the Stoic Epictetus said ‘If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad’, and ‘If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer “He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone”’.

All the above American comedians follow that maxim. The UK equivalent are a bunch of virtue signalling tossers.

I don’t know who the **** Stoic Epictetus is but I can’t say that I’m impressed with his material based on that quote. I am guessing that he didn’t go for snappy one liners?

And I can’t comment on all the other American comedians but I will agree that the UK’s most famous living right-wing comedian, Jim Davidson, is not a virtue signalling tosser, for sure.

He is in fact a well-known wife-beating homophobic racist who likes to joke about people with disabilities, tosser.

There is no doubt that Jim Davidson’s career has nosedived in recent decades but I am not sure that the BBC, which gave him some big breaks early in his career, are to blame for that.

I suspect that it has more to do with the good taste of today’s British multicultural audiences.

I am not sure that the BBC, which gave him some big breaks early in his career, are to blame for that.

Well played!

Or, as Geoff Norcott put it, “if you’re clapping instead of laughing then it isn’t comedy”

a) that’s bollox, plenty of comedy is worthy of applause, whether it’s political or not

b) and ironically Geoff norcott is a comedian who also tries to score political points, and also isn’t that funny or insightful imho

Some more proof this morning that boat-based refugees are parasites who contribute nothing to society.

https://mobile.twitter.com/VBPStories/status/1635030520710193155

Jim Davidson’s career has nosedived in recent decades but I am not sure that the BBC, which gave him some big breaks early in his career, are to blame for that.

Chapeau sir!

When the average Daily Mail reader reads that the BBC is biased their minds immediately turn to Mock the Week, HIGNFY, Nish Kumar and Frankie F***ing Boyle and they say “look how biased against the conservatives the BBC is”

Then they’re thinned skinned snowflakes then, aren’t they? Unless this is another strawman to deflect from the fact that right-wing comedy isn’t really funny to a lot of people. Have a watch of this from Jim Davidson on the Lineker story if you want a view from the ‘other side’ (to over-simplify things greatly):

b) and ironically Geoff norcott is a comedian who also tries to score political points, and also isn’t that funny or insightful imho

Who, not coincidentally, gets a lot of work from the BBC.

According to Sky Mr Lineker is due to return, woohoo.

https://news.sky.com/story/gary-lineker-to-return-to-hosting-sport-for-the-bbc-following-row-over-migration-tweets-12832734

Gary Lineker is to return to presenting sport on the BBC after he was taken off air over his tweets criticising the government’s migration policy, Sky Sports News understands.

It is understood the corporation will apologise to the Match Of The Day presenter.

Pity the snowflakes who’ll get their knickers all bunched up over this…..

which gave him some big breaks early in his career

I can’t shake off the earworm this gave me. Damn you. [ goes off whistling ]

Hope Lineker does return. Was thinking this morning… what happens if a BBC presenter tweets in favour of a government policy, with a comparison that’s too glowing? The problem isn’t political statements made away from BBC broadcasts and content… the problem is criticising government policy and rhetoric… it’s not about trying to appear impartial, it’s about not calling out the government… and people see that, whether they agreed with Lineker’s tweet or not.

Siri, show me what ‘complete capitulation’ looks like…

https://mobile.twitter.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1635215786099744769

^^ 👍

Gotta be honest, I’m somewhat astonished that a) he hasn’t already been headhunted by somewhere like Sky and b) he hasn’t told the BBC to get knotted.

Meanwhile, “for balance,”

Proud & British ? – Fat,white, bald & illiterate – Priceless Sovereignty pic.twitter.com/PqxqUUXvml

— Alex – British/European Not so calm anymore (@Alexverycalm) March 12, 2023

Gotta be honest, I’m somewhat astonished that a) he hasn’t already been headhunted by somewhere like Sky and b) he hasn’t told the BBC to get knotted.

There were rumours that ITV had throw silly money at him, but I’m not sure what he’d present on that channel, plus, this was never about money.
I suspect he knows he has a big platform on the BBC and that, irrelevant of money, it’s the biggest gig going.
I also suspect he quite enjoys the backlash that comes with him being on the BBC and having certain views.

So a climb-down after a tweet from a personal account, highlighting a Govt policy that will (most likely) turn out to be illegal and unenforceable, results in suspension that then turns into days & days of coverage about the over-riding issues faced by people trying to reach the UK, the approach taken by the Govt, accusations of Tory bias at the BBC – including breakdowns of who’s lent/donated what, with the end result that the person in question is reinstated and an apology issued.

Henceforth known as the ‘Lineker Effect’.

Glad they’ve backed down as this was a ludicrous situation, but in my view this isn’t over whilst Sharp is still chairman of the Beeb.

^^ lol at that tweet from cougar.

Why can right wingers never seem to spell correctly?

I mean, I suspect why, but I’m not going to post it.😁

Fat,white, bald & illiterate

Oi! I’m a leftie and I resemble that remark, well not the itilertrae bit…..

Glad they’ve backed down as this was a ludicrous situation, but in my view this isn’t over whilst Sharp is still chairman of the Beeb.

I don’t understand how Sharp can survive as BBC Chairman if he had any input into the decision to suspend Lineker. Likewise Tim Davie. It’s an epic lack of judgement from whoever took the BBC in this humiliating direction.

Hmmm, BBC website says that GL has agreed to abide by guidance while independent review takes place.

Our Media Correspondent David Sillito has been speaking to BBC Director General Tim Davie. We’ll have more from that interview in a moment but here’s a breaking line.

Davie says: “Gary has agreed to abide by the guidance whilst the independent review takes place.”

We’re yet to have Lineker himself confirm this but he’s tweeting a thread out right now.

By who, and when?

Well, lets see how “independent” the review really is, independent reviews are often just a way of getting the result wanted by those commissioning the review.

And lets be honest, what is needed now is not a review into the BBC’s social media policy, but into its political independence.

Too many posts to quote so I’ll resort to bullet points.

1) Lineker was a superb striker whose career left me with some golden – where were you when ? – memories. He’s also (imho) a superb broadcaster and I’m really glad that he’s back.
2) Economic v Asylum migrants. Can’t say that I make a distinction between someone who is fleeing death from war and persecution and someone who is fleeing death from lack of sanitation, lack of food or is just simply seeking the opportunity to live with dignity in a world of plenty.
3) Right wing comedians. I’ve seen Northcott on QT trying to be funny with lines about “NHS – the religion”, it just doesn’t really work. I think satire only works if you’re perched on the moral high ground. Hard to claim that if your outlook is that healthcare depends upon your ability to pay. They’re also huge virtue signallers in their own way, just look at Davidson and his poppy fetishism and armed forces charity stuff.

Fat,white, bald & illiterate

Coincidentally, that was my recent Starbuck’s order.

Well, lets see how “independent” the review really is, independent reviews are often just a way of getting the result wanted by those commissioning the review.

Or kicking the can down the road so people forget about it. And conveniently saving you from having to talk about the issue in the meantime because you don’t want to interfere with the review.

Doesn’t really matter who takes charge of the review, there’s simply no way they can police the opinions of everyone. It’s fundamentally nonsensical to try.

“Because it is extremely hard to find someone who is right-wing and also funny.”

Tell yourself that if you like, I suggest you go and watch some Dave Chapelle, Chris Rock, Bill Burr or Bill Maher videos to see how you can be funny without wearing your political credentials on your wings.

So you think it isn’t a problem that all the news presenters are right wing and all the comedians lefties? You can’t see that the conflation of news and views can lead to misinformation and confusion?

As the Stoic Epictetus said ‘If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad’, and ‘If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer “He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone”’.

All the above American comedians follow that maxim. The UK equivalent are a bunch of virtue signalling tossers.

Or, as Geoff Norcott put it, “if you’re clapping instead of laughing then it isn’t comedy”

I’m glad you said that, I was beginning to think it’s just me. Actually, all of my friends too who are into comedy now I come to think of it. Whenever we watch comedy it’s usually older stuff or the Americans you mentioned. Modern UK panel shows are the absolute worst. Cringeworthy. Last time I went out to see live comedy a few years ago too it was so bad I felt like asking for my money back. Never really thought of it as a left wing/right wing thing, but makes sense with all the insufferable virtue signalling. I prefer comedy to be apolitical. Unless it’s sending it up. Rik from The Young Ones had the angry, hectoring, hypocritical left winger down to a tee 😆. And of course Alan Partridge for the other side of the coin. Genius.

I’m glad you said that, I was beginning to think it’s just me

Have you listened to Radio 1 recently? The music doesn’t sound like music either, you can’t even make out the words to the songs. Call that singing?
Times change, people get older. The youngsters are different to you. Repeat ad nauseam.

Fat,white, bald & illiterate

Coincidentally, that was my recent Starbuck’s order barista.

Re the right and left wing comedians. It’s a stretch to remember, being as it was over 13 years ago but I’m pretty sure comedians gave the, then Labour government a hard time.
(As to labour being left wing or centrist then is another arguement).
Mocking the incumbent government as a part of a comedy act, as far as I remember has been the norm forever.

Yeah I get your point. But no, I never listen to R1. I mainly stick to internet stations that specialise in (very modern) micro niches of house and techno.

Nor sure about your point about age though. A lot of these comedians on panel shows are older than me so it’s not about ‘the kids’ is it?

I’ve no idea what kind of comedy youngsters like tbh. I don’t know any. I can’t imagine it’s Mock The Week though…

Gotta be honest, I’m somewhat astonished that a) he hasn’t already been headhunted by somewhere like Sky and b) he hasn’t told the BBC to get knotted.

b) He doesn’t NEED the money… unbelievable as it may be perhaps the principal is more important to him.
a) Who’s to say he hasn’t? ^^ see above ^^

Re the right and left wing comedians. It’s a stretch to remember, being as it was over 13 years ago but I’m pretty sure comedians gave the, then Labour government a hard time.

Totally. And there was plenty stick given to Corbyn. Also Starmer gets flack, especially from Frankie Boyle (where we started on this tangent). Its just a convenient, ill thought out trope to beat the “woke”, “lefty” BBC with

They may well have backed down to defend Sharp as he’d lose in any brinkmanship. The Tories won’t want to lose their placeman.

Why would Linksy leave? Bit of football, bit of golf, stacks of cash!

They may well have backed down to defend Sharp as he’d lose in any brinkmanship. The Tories won’t want to lose their placeman

Indeed. He was put there to ensure favourable news coverage at the next general election, not get bogged down in arguments with ex-footballers

Backing down will also help fuel gammon rage too, so mission accomplished as far as the governments placeman is concerned

The Daily Mail can carry on peddling the myth that the BBC is run by communists and everything that’s wrong with the country is the fault of a ‘woke’ lefty liberal elite

The Jim Davidson posts kind of illustrate my point. I raise the issue of BBC comedy being too lefty and the only alternative the STW massive can come up with is that piece of S***?

And the clip posted has nothing to do with comedy [not that the man himself has ever been funny], it’s a political rant on a fake news channel, [kind of how the DM readers view BBC comedy…..ironically…]

You may not rate stoic Epictetus Ernie, but his words have been in print for a couple of thousand years, [which is nearly as long as yours will be].

If the quote was a bit long, I’ll paraphrase it; ‘The key to being a good comedian is self depreciation, not self appreciation.’

Maybe he appreciated his own self-deprecation.

You may not rate stoic Epictetus Ernie, but his words have been in print for a couple of thousand years,

Nothing was in print two thousand years ago but irrespective of that the fact that according to you American comedians alledgedly ‘follow his maxim’ is irrelevant, it doesn’t make US comedy funnier or more entertaining or somehow more acceptable.

You might dismiss Jim Davidson as a good example of a right-wing comedian, presumably because you recognise that he is an arsehole, but he is in fact an excellent example – he is a very high profile comedian who has had considerable past success and is very vocal of his support of right-wing causes and Margret Thatcher.

There isn’t exactly a huge amount of right-wing comedians to choose from, after all being a mean-spirited sexist, homophobic, racist, isn’t particularly funny, so why not use the most obvious example?