The Big Fat Quiz: what was offensive was the lack of funny, not the lack of taste

Jack Whitehall, James Corden, Jonathan Ross and Jimmy Carr got into trouble for cracking off-colour jokes about the Queen (Getty Images)

Ever since “Sachsgate”, certain areas of the press have been waiting for another opportunity to put the boot into modern comedy for its lack of reverence.

Channel 4’s Big Fat Quiz of 2012 handed it to them on a plate. Jack Whitehall, James Corden, Jonathan Ross and Jimmy Carr cracked off-colour jokes about the Queen, Susan Boyle and others “just seconds after the 9pm watershed”.

But what was offensive was the lack of funny, not the lack of taste. “SuBo likes it in the arse,” was one bon mot. Then there was “Barack Obama put on a condom and had a posh wank.” Boys, boys. Her Majesty, heard better snark at the Royal Variety Show. In 1949.