Speaking at the premier of his latest observational sit-com to be aired on BBC2 later this week, comedy veteran Dicky Jarvis told us why he thinks the timing is just right for a new cutting edge comedy drama aimed at ridiculing the more disadvantaged and vulnerable members in our society.
A regular on TV throughout the 1970s, Dicky is best known for sit-coms such as 'Spasto and Son' 'Klan About The House' and 'Oh No it's Retard Froggitt' in which kids struggling through life with debilitating conditions such as down syndrome or cerebral palsy are mercilessly mocked and held up for ridicule throughout the half-hour shows with hilarious consequences.
Dicky's new show 'Mongs' is set in a hospital for orphaned children and follows the life of Dipshit, a gay, special needs kid from a family of east European gypsies, living on welfare benefits who is battling to become a fully integrated, independent member of society despite having been born with severe spastic diplegia
'Yes, we thought if the central character had something about him that we all find utterly repellent then it would save time having to introduce other cast members into the show' Dicky told The Arts Show's Claudia Winkleman 'we reckon if you can't find something about Dipshit that makes you want to puke all over the TV remote then you're simply not trying hard enough ...but if you can think of anything we've missed out, then please...let us know and we'll make sure it's in next time.
Oh and he's muslim too, so you need to watch the scene where he's struggling to get up off his prayer mat but no one wants to go near him because he's such a complete spaz....hilarious'.
Some critics argue that holding the central character up as a figure of fun in such a cruel and heartless way belongs to a different era but Dicky was quick to defend the savagery heaped upon Dipshit.....'the little runt should be grateful he's getting any work at all, not complaining about it' snapped Dicky 'comedians are here to push boundaries, not wheelchairs. You have to be brave to target some helpless misfit who can't defend themselves because they were born without limbs and need to spend 12 hours a day on dialysis.
You won't get that on Dibley.
Be honest, what chance has he got of starring in any other show, after all he's only a....is that my phone or yours'?
'Mongs' goes out on BBC2 on Tuesday 29th November at 9:00pm
