The Benny Hill Show – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Benny Hill Show

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1969

18%

WISE Score

British slapstick comedy that's aged about as well as milk left out in the sun—think objectification set to 'Yakety Sax.'

The Benny Hill Show

show

TV-14, 1969

18%

WISE Score

British slapstick comedy that's aged about as well as milk left out in the sun—think objectification set to 'Yakety Sax.'

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: The Benny Hill Show is a relic that should probably stay in the past. Yes, it was hugely popular—aired in 140 countries, ran for decades—but that doesn't mean it holds up.

The 'comedy' is built on objectifying women, with the infamous chase scenes featuring scantily-clad women being pursued by lecherous men to 'Yakety Sax.' What was considered harmless fun in the 1970s now looks like a masterclass in sexism. The double-entendres and innuendo aren't clever—they're just uncomfortable.

Even the IMDb rating of 7.6 is mostly nostalgia talking. If you're looking for classic British comedy that actually holds up, go watch Monty Python or Fawlty Towers instead. This one's best left as a cautionary tale about how comedy evolves—or as a teaching moment about why representation and respect matter.

Not recommended for kids. Barely recommended for adults unless you're doing a cultural studies project on 'Things We Used to Think Were Funny.'

Age Fit

This is really for adults only, and even then, mostly for those interested in television history or understanding how comedy has evolved. The sexual content, objectification, and dated attitudes make it inappropriate for kids and uncomfortable for most modern viewers of any age.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The show's humor relies heavily on objectifying women (the infamous chase scenes with scantily-clad women being chased), sexual innuendo, and double-entendres. It doesn't model kindness or cooperation—instead it presents women as props for male gaze comedy. The tone is dated and uncomfortable by modern standards, normalizing behavior that would be considered harassment today.

Imaginative

The slapstick, mime, and parody elements show some creative variety in sketch comedy formats. The physical comedy and wordplay required inventiveness for its era. However, the formula became repetitive (chase scenes set to 'Yakety Sax'), and it doesn't invite viewer creativity or exploration—it's passive consumption of dated comedy tropes.

Safe

While there's no graphic violence or explicit content, the show is filled with sexual objectification, innuendo, and scenarios that normalize inappropriate behavior toward women. The 'comedy' often involves leering, groping attempts, and women presented as sexual objects. Common Sense Media rates it 14+, acknowledging the sexual content. Modern kids watching would encounter normalized sexism that contradicts contemporary values about respect and consent.

Enriching

There's virtually no educational value, character development, or meaningful takeaways. The humor doesn't build empathy or insight—it reinforces gender stereotypes. The entertainment value itself has aged poorly; what passed for comedy in the 1970s-80s is now largely cringe-inducing. The show offers no skill-building or cognitive growth, just repetitive, dated gags.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If you're studying the history of British comedy or 1970s television culture, it's a time capsule
The physical comedy and mime work show some legitimate slapstick skill
The IMDb rating of 7.6 reflects nostalgia from viewers who grew up with it
Some parents might remember watching it and want to show how comedy has evolved (as a teaching moment)

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What to Watch For

Constant sexual objectification—women are literally chased around as punchlines, often in revealing clothing
Outdated gender dynamics that normalize inappropriate behavior (groping attempts played for laughs)
Humor based on leering, double-entendres, and treating women as objects rather than people
So dated it's genuinely hard to watch without cringing—not recommended for kids at all
Even for adults, this is mostly a 'wow, we really thought this was okay?' historical artifact

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think comedy that was popular 50 years ago doesn't work today?"
"How do you think the women in these sketches might have felt being treated as props?"
"What makes something funny versus just mean or uncomfortable?"
"How has our understanding of respect and consent changed since this show aired?"

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