A DAD’S Army and Hi-de-Hi star has ripped into ‘woke’ sitcoms and comedies and revealed exactly what bosses have to do to revive the genre.
Jeffrey Holland shot to fame for his iconic role as Spike Dixon in Hi-de-Hi throughout the eighties.
The actor played the character for nine series before the sitcom was brought to an end in 1988.
Jeffrey, now 78, will reflect on his decades long career in his new book The First Rule of Comedy.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun about comedies and sitcoms on air today, he said the genre is declining over a lack of live audiences.
The TV star explained: “There aren’t any. They don’t use a studio audience. Mrs Brown’s Boys does, you see. That’s why I love that show.
“Because he plays to them in the studio, and we know exactly what he’s getting up to when mistakes are made. He keeps them in. I love it. The principle of it.
“But you see, the studio audience are there to help the audience at home watching TV to know what’s funny and when to laugh.
“They laugh. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not cueing them in because they’re stupid. It’s just seeing them, it’s just cheering them along with the atmosphere of the show as it was being made in the studio that night.”
Jeffrey added: “You have to think too hard these days.
“We just don’t have the production values anymore that we had then. They’re different. It’s different.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Brit sitcom legend, 67, looks unrecognisable on holiday – but can you guess who she is?” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366765705112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]‘Woke’ debate
Jeffrey added that he thinks writing for sitcoms being overhauled is also contributing to their decline.
He explained: “First of all, we’re not getting the writers.
“And it’s a different world we live in now from the world we lived in then. And some things aren’t considered to be as funny. They’re just considered to be corny.
“You know, in modern terms. It’s natural. It’s a shame, but it’s natural. But they make these programs with what they think are funny gags in it.”
When quizzed on ‘wokeness’ in comedy, Jeffrey replied: “It’s just a question of giving priorities to the wrong emphasis, I think, somehow with woke and all that.”
Throughout his career Jeffrey has had a number of guest appearances in legendary shows such as Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served, Crossroads and Oh, Doctor Beeching!.
He also played the role of Private Walker in the Dad’s Army Stage Show, where he was first introduced to Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of Hi-De-Hi.
In 2011 Jeffrey guest starred in Coronation Street, arriving in Weatherfield for a brief appearance as Clive Drinkwater.
Jeffrey Holland: The First Rule of Comedy is available from February.