The Liverpool-born television producer behind legendary comedy shows such as Have I Got News For You and Father Ted has claimed the BBC has become “nervous” about jokes aimed at Donald Trump following the US president’s $10bn legal action against the broadcaster.
Jimmy Mulville, co-founder of independent production company Hat Trick Productions and executive producer of Have I Got News For You, said he had detected a change in attitude from the corporation since Trump launched defamation proceedings over a Panorama documentary.
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Speaking on Insiders: The TV Podcast, he said: “They are more nervous about us making jokes about Donald Trump [since the legal action].
“The BBC is ultimately a very reasonable organisation, so you can have conversations with them. They don’t tell you what to do, but I detect that they’re making a thing of it, and I just wish they would see it through a more common sense POV.”
Mulville, who grew up in Walton before going on to Cambridge University, co-founded Hat Trick Productions in 1986. The company has produced some of British television’s best-known comedy programmes, including Have I Got News For You, Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Father Ted.
He argued that the BBC should not be intimidated by the legal action, adding: “I think Trump’s on a losing wicket. I just wish the BBC would see it, and calm the f*** down about it.”
Trump is suing the BBC after claiming the broadcaster misleadingly edited footage of his January 6 speech in a Panorama documentary. The lawsuit, seeking $10bn in damages, remains ongoing.
Mulville also joked during the podcast about the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, noting that Hat Trick also produces the US version of Have I Got News For You for CNN.
