Little Britain….

Despite producing some very positive and creative works, the on screen Duo of David Walliams and Matt Lucas are also responsible for the rather obnoxious series Little Britain.This BBC TV Show was built around a series of sketches featuring flawed, highly exaggerated characters delivering lavatorial level jokes. The humour was lost on me, but apparently very popular with ten year old boys. These children, who shouldn’t have been watching were more than likely, responsible for driving the shows massive popularity.

The whole show was hard to watch, there was frequent on screen vomiting, mixed in with uncomfortable gags about various minority groups. Some of the humour may have worked as a visual joke once or twice, however it appeared that the show was built on repetition of the same joke, delivered in slightly different situations. It was to me, repulsive television, and thankfully it was not long lived…So why have I mentioned “Little Britain”……

One of the characters was “Emily” who was introduced by the narrator on the show as a “Very Bad Transvestite” The premise for the Emily sketches was simple, She was an unconvincing Trans Woman, who displayed exaggerated masculine and feminine qualities, resulting in, apparently hysterically funny outcomes. She was never acknowledged as Female during any of the sketches, and the punchlines seemed to revolve around Emily switching back to stereotypically Male behaviour.

I have become Emily.

instances of misgendering are increasing, not reducing as I hoped they would, as I progressed on my journey, and its not funny.

The most recent instance was from a Gentleman who has only ever known Suzanne.The last vestiges of my fragile sense of self, that has taken a battering in recent weeks, have been smashed to smithereens. Stood at a crowded bar, he pointed at me and announced “He’s Paying” For Fucks Sake. I’ve quite literally reached the limit of my tolerance.

I’m really not sure where the inspiration for Emily sprang from. David Walliams, wrote a charming and beautifully positive book called the Boy In the Dress that deals with sensitive subject of a Twelve year old boy exploring his Gender Identity. The Very Bad Transvestite gag never was funny, but when I think about the Emily Sketches now, I have to speculate that for Walliams this was an insensitive portrayal of some personal experience of the challenges facing the Transgender community.

I’m not sure where I go next. Staying in my bedroom for the remainder of the day is an attractive option right now. I have no desire to spoil mine, or anybody else’s day by appearing in front of them as a Very Bad Transvestite……

6 responses to “Little Britain….”

Olly Downie

December 22, 2017

Little Britain is still hilarious. It’s ability to take the piss out of everything, leaving no stone unturned still makes me laugh out loud. I for one, think those two clowns were the funniest things out of Britain for a long while. I do understand how, as a transgender person, you might be offended by some of the skits. However you have moved the goal posts into the line of fire, not the other way around. You have made one of the most extreme changes to yourself, don’t expect everyone to hold your hand. Most people are probably struggling to adjust to the change you made, most of them are probably adjusting well. I’ve just turned 60 and now have to put up with rampant ageism, a real and tangible thing. I roll with the punches. My aching hips and creaking knee joints dont allow me to run these 20 something little bitches down and chastise them. I just have to roll with the punches and call into play, the many affirmations that have seen me through to this momentous time of my life.
Yield, like a living breathing blade of grass in the wind. You will swing back to stand tall as soon as the breeze stops blowing.
To the bloke who insulted you in that way, surely you could say to him ” fuck off you sexist cunt, buy your own drink”
I would have, without a moment’s hesitation.
You are the most important person in your life. Keep it real bitch. Visit Melbourne.
Peace.

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Kat

December 22, 2017

I read an interview with one of them recently where they said they regretted some of the LB content and acknowledged that it wasn’t entirely funny. People do grow and become more human I think. I loved little Britain, mostly for the ‘computer says no’ character as I was working in personal lending and quite frequently delivered that outcome to applicants. I was in my very early 20s and very naive.

Becoming friends with you and in particular the diversity training at work has opened up my eyes a lot and made me far more thoughtful around other people’s experiences. I think I’m a better person now than I was 10 or 15 years ago. And you’re no Emily, not even close

Xx

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lizkimber

December 22, 2017

While i too am sad and down (Maddie the dog has been diagnosed with cancer again, this tine lymph nodes and speeln) so offering my friend boosting comments is hard when i too feel bottom of my well of doom. But.

F*** everyone who doesnt like something about us, whether its the colour of your shoes or the fact youve got the cold from hell and frankly shoving tampons up your nose feels like the only sane answer.

There are so many people in the world, no matter how perfect we try and be, there will be those who hate. So let them. How crap must their lives be if the best they can manage is to find people to hate on.

Its your body. If you covered it tatoos and holes, if you wanna go out in a full on leotard and tutu, theres someone somewhere doing something more outrageous and if its ok for them. Then damnit its ok for us.

The haters arent your friends, if you thought they were, now you know better. Feel sorry for them. Cos the best they can manage is to hate on someone, not do something nice or have the manners not to comment.

If people rag on your look, pull up the people of wallmart. Cos frankly they didnt care what the world thought and nothing you could do without using them as role models could make you feel anything other than miss world next to them.

I know some of the inner you. You are a beautiful wonderful person i proudly call friend, even though you are so far away. Im far from in a position to offer beauty tips as heck, i e the face of a troll and dont wear make up, jewelry or have any form of jair style. But, ponder this

If Jane thinks you’re beautiful… does anyone else view matter..?

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Kaz Peirce

December 23, 2017

Suzanne you have me at odds. On one hand feeling such empathy for your struggle and on the other hand wants to slap you up and say, “come on girl, you are bigger than this”!
And today you have challenged and inspired me, to see that the struggle to be openly authentic, to show up and let people see who we really are is shared by everyone.
Every time you put those boots on, apply that pretty lipstick and get out into the world you are leading the rest of us towards more boldness, more honesty and more empowerment. We can’t help but be positively affected by your bravery.

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Basho47

December 23, 2017

Fuck ’em if they can’t see a quality woman when they’re looking at one. Jog on my lovely….

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Julia Harwood

December 23, 2017

I can’t begin to understand what you are going through, but the only real power these people have is the power you give them. If we stand up and beleive in ourselves then what others think doesn’t matter as much. To the man at the bar, I would have said, “you know what mate, I used to be faking it, now I’m real, this is who I am.”
Remember that is their fear and insecurities that are speaking out of them, it actually has nothing to do with you personally.
It must be so hard to have made the transition to who you really were only to still feel like you don’t fit or don’t belong. You can’t change others, only yourself. Big hugs. The people who know you love you.

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