'Woke' reboot of Little Britain in the works after Matt Lucas and David Walliams apologise for show's offensive humour

21 December 2023, 09:42 | Updated: 21 December 2023, 10:37

Little Britain is set to make a comeback with a makeover.
Little Britain is set to make a comeback with a makeover. Picture: Alamy

By Jenny Medlicott

Matt Lucas and David Walliams have confirmed a Little Britain reboot is on its way - but the show will return with a ‘different’ look to the original.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Little Britain which ran from 2003 until 2006, showed the lives of multiple characters living in Britain.

But the show has faced a torrent of backlash in recent years for its use of offensive humour - including the use of blackface, racial stereotyping and more.

Lucas, 49, and Walliams, 52, both issued apologies in 2020 for their use of blackface in the show.

Now Lucas has confirmed a reboot on the way but this time around the comedy duo are planning to ‘diversify’ the talent included in the production process.

The show is set to have a very different look and is likely to wave goodbye to some of its problematic characters.

“The show will be different in many ways,” Lucas told The Sun.

“We are talking about how we can have diverse talent on screen and in the writers' room and conceive it as something which is just not about me and David playing absolutely everyone.

“That is something we should have done but didn't do back then”.

Read more: Man exonerated after wrongfully spending 48 years in prison for murder is living off handouts after cancer diagnosis

Read more: Christmas getaway chaos as 'do not travel' alert issued amid 80mph Storm Pia gusts

A Little Britain reboot is in the works.
A Little Britain reboot is in the works. Picture: Getty

Little Britain was initially taken off streaming platforms in the wake of the backlash but was later restored to screens in 2022 with scenes depicting blackface cut from the episodes.

The show now runs online with content warnings at the start.

Lucas said he “respects” everyone’s opinion but acknowledged that times have changed.

He said: “Because some people are upset about what we do, or what we have done, out of respect to those people I don’t talk about it publicly because I don’t want to cause further upset to people who were upset.

“I totally accept there are different opinions.

“I accept people feel very differently from others and I respect everyone’s opinion from wherever they come from on this subject. I see things differently now to how we did.

“Things have changed and I respect that.”

All three seasons of the show are set to return to the TV this Christmas to mark its 20-year anniversary.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Foreign Ministers attend an Arab League extraordinary meeting in Cairo on October 11, 2023.

Egypt to host emergency Arab League summit after Trump announces plan to displace 1.8 million Palestinians and 'take over Gaza'

Jack Fincham.

Love Island star admits to feeling like a 'failure' after spending '£1 million on drugs, alcohol and gambling'

Westminster Abbey and Church House

Church of England meeting at time of ‘unprecedented crisis’ after scandals and historical abuse claims

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing

easyJet flight forced to make emergency landing after pilot collapses on board

Joel Verite was among the first on the scene of the Southport knife attack where three girls were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party.

Southport hero who came face-to-face with Rudakubana as he rushed to save dying girls says it was 'like a horror film'

Labour vows to punish any other MP or minister caught up in Andrew Gwynne WhatsApp group scandal

Labour vows to punish any MP caught up in Andrew Gwynne WhatsApp group scandal

Donald Trump has spoken to Vladimir Putin

Trump confirms he 'spoke to Putin about ending war in Ukraine' as Russian president 'wants to see people stop dying'

displaced Gazans walking toward Gaza City on January 27, 2025, after crossing the Netzarim corridor from the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops withdraw from key militarised corridor that splits Gaza in two as part of ceasefire deal

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, on Thursday afternoon.

Mysterious death of British couple in French villa suspected murder-suicide as investigators consider new theories

David Schwimmer has called for Elon Musk to ban Kanye West from X

Friends star David Schwimmer calls for Kanye West to be banned from X over 'hate-filled, ignorant' remarks

The NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in a mid-air collision near DCA in Arlington, VA.

All major parts of DC plane and Black Hawk helicopter involved in mid-air collision recovered, investigators confirm

A Thai hostage who was freed from Hamas, Pongsak Thaenna, hugs a relative upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport

'We never gave up hope': Freed Thai hostages in tears of joy as they reunite with families after more than a year

Harry and Meghan at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games.

Meghan and Prince Harry cheer on Team UK at Invictus Games opening ceremony

Daisy the Labrador.

Stolen dog reunited with family after seven years

Irish boxer John Cooney.

Boxer dies from a brain bleed, from injury during championship fight

'Make Europe Great Again' Rally In Madrid

'Make Europe Great Again': Far-right European political leaders praise Trump at Madrid meeting