BBC cancels The Mash Report in perceived crackdown on network’s ‘left-wing bias’

Broadcaster said it needed to ‘make room’ for new comedy shows

The BBC has cancelled Nish Kumar’sThe Mash Report. 

The comedian’s satirical show ran for four seasons and covered political issues such as Brexit. The BBC has now announced that it will not return for a fifth series.

Kumar’s show, on which Rachel Parris heavily featured, has became the subject of controversy concerning criticism that BBC’s comedy output is perceived as having a left-wing bias.

A spokesperson for the network confirmed that the programme has been axed to “make room” for new comedy show.

“We are very proud ofThe Mash Report but in order to make room for new comedy shows we sometimes have to make difficult decisions and it won’t be returning,” they said.

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“We would like to thank all those involved in four brilliant series and hope to work with Nish Kumar, Rachel Parris and the team in the future.”

Former BBC presenter Andrew Neil has previously criticised The Mash Report as “self-satisfied, self-adulatory, unchallenged left-wing propaganda”. 

Tim Davie, who became the BBC’s director general last year, had pledged in September to enforce a “radical shift” at the broadcaster to better represent the UK.

It was also reported that Davie wanted to “tackle perceived left-wing bias” in comedy shows, however, he later dismissed the reports as “nonsense”.