One of The Benny Hill Show’s last episodes featured the contentious scene in question. Hill depicted a stereotypical, lecherous old man pursuing young women in this sketch, which ended with a scene that many viewers found extremely unsettling. The highly suggestive scene, in which Hill’s character cornered a young woman, immediately caused outrage.
The reaction was swift and severe. The scene’s obvious sexism and disregard for modern values were denounced by viewers and critics. Numerous letters were sent to the network criticizing the show’s use of offensive and out-of-date stereotypes. The criticism was heightened by feminist organizations and media watchdogs, who called for the cancellation of the show.
The Benny Hill Show had a devoted fan base despite being criticized for a long time. But by the early 1990s, things had changed dramatically in terms of culture.
