The air in the studio crackled with anticipation, a familiar energy before the storm of wit that isMock the Week. For two decades, the show has fearlessly targeted the powerful, the pompous, and the perpetually controversial – politicians, monarchs, celebrities, no one was safe.
This week, however, the comedians ventured into particularly sensitive territory, turning their attention to Andrew, Duke of York, and the lingering shadow of his association with Jeffrey Epstein. A seemingly innocuous image – Andrew behind the wheel of a car – served as the launchpad for a series of increasingly daring jokes.
Host Dara Ó Briain posed the question, “What’s going on here?” and the responses came swiftly. Angela Barnes quipped about a belated getaway car, while Lou Sanders delivered a biting line about Andrew’s preference for “younger models.” The audience erupted, a mixture of shock and amusement rippling through the room.
But it was Ed Byrne who truly pushed the boundaries. Pointing to a “no entry” sign in the picture, he delivered a punchline that landed with a resounding thud, a dark implication about disregarding boundaries altogether. A collective groan swept through the audience, a testament to the joke’s uncomfortable truth.
The controversy surrounding Andrew’s relationship with Epstein has been immense, leading to his removal of royal duties by King Charles III. The former prince vehemently denies any wrongdoing, but the allegations continue to fuel public scrutiny and, now, satirical commentary.
This isn’t the first timeMock the Weekhas dared to lampoon the royal family. Years ago, Frankie Boyle sparked outrage with a shockingly graphic joke about the late Queen, prompting a formal complaint to the BBC. The complaint, citing “nastiest kind of lese-majesty and ageism,” ultimately failed, with trustees acknowledging the remark was in poor taste but within the bounds of audience expectation.
The show has always walked a tightrope, balancing the desire to provoke laughter with the potential to offend. It’s a delicate dance, one thatMock the Weekcontinues to navigate with a unique blend of audacity and intelligence, consistently testing the limits of what can be said on public television.
The recent jokes, like Byrne’s pointed observation, demonstrate a willingness to confront difficult subjects head-on, using humor as a tool to dissect power and challenge established norms. It’s a tradition that has defined the show for twenty years, and one that shows no signs of slowing down.
