That's funny - BBC comedy used to be in the days of Not the Nine o'clock news and Monty Python, is it now?

Not the Nine o'clock news -

the great comedy enterprise of the early 1980's

Turn on your radio at 6.30pm on BBC Radio 4 and it's comedy time, or not.

Apart from the 'I'm sorry, I haven't a clue,' a stalwart program that started in the 1970's and attracts a wealth of high calibre guests, the remaining offerings of today are frankly, crap.

The 'Now Show' on Radio 4, used to be funny, it is not any more. A move to a more 'diverse' cast line-up has let it fall in to the puerile rubbish trap.

I could go on, maybe the golden days of BBC comedy are gone, having been replaced by a 'diverse' and politically correct-friendly bland and tepid, unfunny mush.

With all of our once comedy greats now dead or retired, will we see the like of the Not the Nine o'clock news team again? I remember willing the days to go round until Monday night to enjoy as a young teenager, their anarchic style of comedy.

Great songs, great comedy, parodies and impersonations, a wealth of talent and writing, which later led to post NTNON careers, including acting, writing and production.

Where is the new comparable, clever talent now?

The Goodies - why no repeats for so many years?

Another great talent team was The Goodies, producing hilarious and sometimes bizarre comedy, some of it probably judged too 'sensitive' to re-broadcast today?

Rutland Weekend Television - Eric Idle's post Python series

The post Monty Python Eric Idle project 'Rutland Weekend television' based on a mythical small budget TV station in England's smallest county, is in itself a parody of television of the time and now, cash starved, shoe string, least cost option, staffed by proud people, trying to do their best in trying circumstances.

RWT never really got the publicity it should have, but like all these shows featured here, has attracted cult status.

Controversial and bleeped out!

Strangling animals and golf was deemed ok,

masturbating, not so

The Monty Python's flying circus team

The title of the enfant terribles of comedy must surely go to the Monty Python's flying circus team. Perhaps, collectively, the greatest waste of university education in one sitting, this band of refugees from the university Footlights reviews, evolved their talent in shows such as 'Do not adjust your set', before hitting the jackpot with Monty Python.

Their cocktail of the absurd rubbing shoulders with the normal, should serve as a master class to the writers of today and tomorrow.

Their comedy broke new ground, made up of writing teams within the program cast, their sketches sometimes barely worked, seemed to truncate without an obvious punchline and to some were just frankly, bizarre. Many are brilliant and revered today.

There was some real genius and their university education often peppered the comedy sketches with highbrow snippets, that if researched showed a level of education that is way beyond the puerile crap of today's so-called comedy.

Mary Whitehouse - the self appointed guardian of the nation

and a thorn in the side of many Broadcasters

Although Monty Python broke ground and pushed boundaries, they faced like many program makers, the scrutiny (and for some the wrath) of the late Mrs Mary Whitehouse.

Mrs Whitehouse, a suburban housewife from the Midlands, decided that boundaries of decency were being pushed too far in the liberal 1960's. Her ill advised 'Clean Up National Tv' campaign name, which if used as an acronym spelt something rather unfortunate, a word that she was unaware of apparently, was changed into the National Viewers and Listener's association, a far safer name, unlikely to get the local vicar hot under the dog collar.

Her crusade against immoral broadcast output often aided careers, to be 'blasted' by Mrs Whitehouse was often seen as a badge of honour to some broadcasters. History has shown that Mrs Whitehouse was often right in her arguments, she could see that the 'permissive society' of the 1960's would lead to later social problems. The 'progressives' disagreed and she was often lampooned, but history has proven her right.

It may seem that we have embarked upon a rose tinted journey into the past, but the past was better for comedy and television. They great days were the 60's and 70's, the like of which we are unlikely to see again.

Demand TV availability has meant that broadcasting schedules are largely irrelevant as is the BBC licence fee, in an era of commercial broadcasting.