Alan Titchmarsh: 'I am appalled by the very existence of cancel culture'

“I’m appalled by the very existence of cancel culture.”
Alan Titchmarsh tells Matt Chorley why he wants to “safeguard” free speech, and why he’s against solar panels and fake grass.
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[@ryanwbourquin]

conservatives and the religious establishment have been cancelling for the last 2000 years and nobody blinked an eye.

[@CaroAbebe]

Yes, let’s cancel cancel culture 😂

[@julianshepherd2038]

They cancelled Russel Howard, the Mash Report, Mock the Week and Ranganation seems to have been quietly smothered. I do not think the government enjoys satirical comedy when it is them that we are all laughing at.

[@alastairwallace6153]

They cancelled russel Howard?

[@connortilson7141]

Totally agree - free speech is a fundamental human right. Even if if causes offence

[@michaelcoward1902]

Even when a Trans person states their pronouns and the entire right wing media bursts into outraged tears?

[@alanfrost4661]

Tell that to YT who if you dont toe the line you are barred

[@scwotz]

​@@michaelcoward1902it's more a role of the eyes and a rejection of compelled speech. You might want me to call you he/her but I'll use whatever language I want sir/madam.

[@scwotz]

Especially if it causes offence.

[@Mark-Haddow]

There is no such thing as Free Speech, and there should never be such a thing. Freedom to criticise the government or whomever is in charge, without fear of retribution doesn't cover racists, bigots or right wing bloggers.

[@billykotsos4642]

stop these distractions and keep focusing on: 1. Economy 2. Migration 3. HOUSING EVERYTHING ELSE IS IRRELEVANT

[@davidmurphy563]

Education, health and foreign policy are irrelevant. Got it.

[@iangascoigne8231]

Is it because you say so?

[@dwinter666]

Right-wing filth are obsessed with immigration, mostly old boomer morons who live in rural areas who'll gladly accept health and social care treatment from the people they demonise on social media.

[@billykotsos4642]

@@iangascoigne8231 your prob a Tory bot why would I even respond to you ? Or are you implying that everything the media covers is relevant ?? Which one is it ?

[@iangascoigne8231]

@@billykotsos4642 Yet here you are replying. Why am I a Tory bot Billy? Again because you say so? It’s amusing the bloke with the foreign sounding name’s 2nd priority is migration. You sound as bad as Sunak and Braverman. So perhaps the Tory bot is you, since spouting Tory talking points, bad spelling and the use of capitals are all tell tale signs, but you forgot the capitals. There’s no point in me telling you what my priorities are since a you so eloquently put it, unless I agree with you it’s irrelevant. Though who died and made you the sole arbiter of what’s relevant? I look forward to your next Tory talking point missive, Mr Tory bot.

[@johncraig4820]

7:46 It is telling that he says certain minority groups are intolerant. Minority groups aren't really a threat to free speech. The majority can threaten their right to complain and boycott.

[@whattheflyingfuck...]

are these the same blokes that think accountability for politicians is not necessary?

[@davidjames2083]

*My Auntie Beryl offered "sustenance" to all the blokes in my village for 12 months a year too, including Alan Titchmarsh's Dad and Grandad, in her "Garden Shed of Love", until she got locked-up in that secure mental facility in Bexhill.*

[@Arthur54321]

Good on her sounds like a fine woman your Aunt Beryl. Community spirited - probably kept a lot of marriages together. I imagine she was a bit passed it when young Al came on the scene.

[@davidjames2083]

She was a fine and courageous woman Arthur, but it was actually Alan Titchmarsh who did for her with his Tantric Sex Beetroot thing - she could handle just about anything, but not that 😥@@Arthur54321

[@amenhotepthethird209]

Its called democracy. People can choose to listen (or not) to who they please. Say whatever you want, although the majority will decide if they want to hear it and the impact it has on you.

[@michaelparkinsonsfreeparkerpen]

Who gets to define what the majority think? If you like what someone says you can listen if you don't like don't listen Don't try and take away their platform It's like trying to ban steak because babies can't eat it or banning nuts because some have an allergy

[@davidgraham8058]

It’s nothing to do with democracy if you ban people from expressing views you that disagree with. That’s called tyranny.

[@rolandhawken6628]

There is an old expression in the English language " Nail you colours to the mast " It has virtually dropped out of use people are snivelling cowards now afraid to state their opinion

[@albertbrammer9263]

Why doesn't Titchmarsh question by fools in the Tory party like Jacob Rees-Mogg have stated that if we import food cheaper than we can grow it, then it makes the most sense to import it. Stick to gardening.

[@SkageXL5]

He's British, he *loves* his owner.

[@ukeman1387]

I remember this little character moaning about the possibility of a mansion tax. Went off him then.

[@RDHamel]

Poor poor Alan with his television programmes and that and being able to come on programmes like this and complain about not being able to say what he wants. It’s almost as if he hasn’t been cancelled… being part of the hegemonic culture and all that.

[@Fee_V]

At no point did he say he’d been cancelled.

[@cupguin]

I'm appalled that I'm supposed to have forgotten the entirety of the past. It's genuinely a new name not a new idea. And if you think people's careers weren't "cancelled" over their personal beliefs and personal lives you clearly weren't paying attention. Seriously what do we call what happened to Wilde? The man was given two years hard labour for his private life. If that's not a moral judgement that ended a career, what is it? The only difference is a group of people, who thought they untouchable, can no longer entirely rely on a network of old school chums to keep the lights on anymore. They are at a miniscule risk of facing organic public backlash due to their words and actions that might impact their careers. The horror.

[@davidgraham8058]

Nobody ever claimed that people weren’t historically persecuted for their beliefs. You are arguing against a non-existent argument 😂

[@cupguin]

@@davidgraham8058 Except I'm not, "cancel culture" is a scary new thing that is the domain of the "woke left". All this pearl clutching over this new social trend never says "oh it's just like how America treated the Dixie Chicks", it's an entirely new dangerous idea. So we get "Wokeness and cancel culture are the real ‘cancer’ of the 21st century!" a genuine title or "Woke society and cancel culture harm us all" in defence of Scott Adams or essentially anything with "cancel culture strikes again" in the title Or for fun an Australian article called "Enough with the woke era, it's time to cancel cancel culture" which says in its text "The woke brigade are today's Stalinists." and claims back in the '80s things were different. Or the current deputy PM who has such bangers as "Anyone who dares resist this argument - anyone who objects to this woke aggression - is branded as instigating culture wars,". "Don’t let Britain get carried away in this moment of wokery" and started an article "We won’t allow Britain’s history to be cancelled I want to take not a Maoist but a “moreist approach” to heritage". All from different interviews and at all points defines this as a new issue not the way things have always been. Or basically every Tory party conference over the last few years that suddenly has been terrified about dangerous forces trying to destroy the UK through "cancel culture". It's why they use terms like "wokeism" and refuse to define it, it's something new that you target voter disagree with because things used to be different.

[@gillhughes6644]

Please have a chat with Graham Linehan, the co creator of Father Ted, who knows a lot about cancel culture - everything he does in the arts has been cancelled because he says, and insists on saying, "You cannot change your sex.". This "heresy" is so appalling that people in the trans activist movement call not only for people to be cancelled, but also some of them would like such people to die. They are attacked on line, they lose their jobs, some of them have lost their relationships because of the pressure - just for saying "you can't change your sex", "men cannot go into women's prisons, men cant go into women's spaces." Simple stuff that makes sense to any ordinary thinking person, but an appalling act that is considered not "nice". So Alan, just asking people to be nice - tell lthat to the trans activists of Stonewall, whose main purpose is to cancel anyone who believes in biology.

[@concernednewfie]

Is this about the guy that started Brexit. Could not stomach even starting the video.

[@davidgraham8058]

Leave this for the intelligent people then. You go out and play with worms in the garden.

[@antonysmyth2464]

It’s good for people to be careful about what they say. It’s fine for any of us to chose to not hear what others say. There is no such thing as ‘cancel culture’ there are only people cross because others do not agree with or what to hear/ see some views.

[@Yaarmehearty]

Being "cancelled" doesn't stop people saying that they think, it's just consequences for actions, the same way as I can insult my boss but I'd face consequences. People in the public eye have their position at the pleasure of the public, they can keep their thoughts to themselves, or they can speak them publically and accept the consequences. Beyond even that, there really isn't such a thing as being cancelled beyond what there always has been, entertainers or politicians have always fallen when they lose public favour and haven't been elected or booked. The difference is that now there is social media so it's easier for public figures who think they need to put their every thought into the world to find out that the people don't care about them as much as they thought.

[@rbaxter286]

Wow, typical excuse for the utter 80% Below Average content on KZbin. The only thing the UK has going for it is it's ABOVE AVERAGE educational system and huge stock of over-educated workers. Your Perfect World would have it descend onto the level of Mississippi, Alabama and (shudder) Texas.

[@johncraig4820]

Right! Telling someone to shut up is free speech. Authorities forcing people to stop yelling shut up is censorship.

[@alansmith4748]

What people say aren't actions. Isn't debate the best way to counter what people say ?

[@johncraig4820]

@@alansmith4748 Boycotts, public shaming are ways people have combatted hateful speech forever. How is cancel culture different other than the speed of the Internet

[@alansmith4748]

@@johncraig4820 Wouldn't a counter argument be a better way. Argument; not in the sense of a violent disagreemnet. but rather an opposite, diverging opinion?

[@advocate1563]

Well done Alan Titchmarsh.

[@IbnBahtuta]

I still can't hear him for the brass band in the background. Titchmarsh as the conscience of Great Britain, like you had ever one.

[@cookiejar01]

Lovely interview 👏

[@soph5161]

I love the Love your Weekend show. I would love Nigel Farage to be on the show.

[@dora71803]

Is this all he's got to worry about.

[@dwinter666]

These celebrities want to be able to do whatever they want without consequences. Well that time is over, too bad Alan

[@michaelparkinsonsfreeparkerpen]

Which celebrities and what consequences?

[@popculture70]

Compelled speech, compelled silence.

[@reekiereekie7264]

Think the idea of farm land is to produce money for the owner so solar panels are a good crop. Also what looks worse and has a worse effect on the environment some solar panels or a massive power station

[@NeuroDeviant421]

People’s displeasure is a market force. Capitalists should embrace it.

[@ryp6627]

Anyone can throw out a random figure with no plan of how to do it

[@poplife123]

So in summary rural communities are final realising BREXIT ain't working..... Welcome folks

[@alanfrost4661]

It isnt working because the government arnt trying to make it work

[@ThatGuyThanus]

R. Swipe.

[@soph5161]

Or Richard Tice.

[@pablo9364]

I've had enough of all the cookery programmes.

[@danielclemence3689]

But Labour are the main force behind cancel culture, so why are you backing them? If you aren't happy with either party, vote for another one like Reform.

[@colmcgillveray1010]

Are you still alive? As Shanae MacGowan sang "Marry Christmas I hope its your last. " Will I get cancelled now?

[@Arthur54321]

Good old Al what's not to like. I'd certainly buy him a pint.

[@melonhusk]

Conservatives have practised cancel culture and political correctness for millenias. How come it's become a problem only when social liberalism appeared and adopted it?

[@michaelparkinsonsfreeparkerpen]

Cancel culture is bad regardless

[@geoffwright9570]

Cancel culture and woke ism began with yes you've guessed it. Tony Blair with his political correctness. Then developed into what you have in the present day.

[@michaelcoward1902]

Because of course society never had any progression issues before Blair did it. The Civil rights movement, and the suffragettes were all just figments of the imagination.

[@alanfrost4661]

Thanks Blair yet again

[@michaelparkinsonsfreeparkerpen]

Cancel culture happened under Thatcher and McCarthyism

[@ftumschk]

"Political Correctness" pre-dated Tony Blair by decades (the term was first coined in the 1930s), and really took off in the UK during the 1980s.

[@pccougar895]

This guy wants to cancel "cancel culture". A little Ironic.

[@formicapple2]

I’d rather Titchers have a Peerage than most of the recent appointees

[@peternoble4172]

Well said that man

[@vivienclogger]

Speak freely, but expect consequences if you say something vile. 😁

[@michaelparkinsonsfreeparkerpen]

Consequences such as?

[@stevedixon8567]

you’re a gardening presenter pal

[@whattheflyingfuck...]

yeah we can tell, he better shuts his mouth and plants some bulbs for next year

[@samanthablackman4960]

First thing I thought seeing it 😂

[@rtfazeberdee3519]

yep, and he doesn't seem to heard of agrivoltaics

[@kevincockburn2228]

It's OK to be a garden presenter and be appalled at cancel culture and to talk about it. People from all walks are being dragged into this ideology and the only choice seems to be to accept or reject it.

[@stevedixon8567]

@@kevincockburn2228 the point is - why does a gardening presenter get to go on times radio and another mainstream outlets and give their opinions on this topic and you and I can't because why? We haven't been on telly talking about how to look after your runner beans? It seems a bit rich for Titch to talk about being cancelled when he has privileged access to very media you or I couldn't get on.

[@keithsunderland8839]

300 a day if you're a member of the House of Lords!

[@twisteddancer7773]

We all know where cancel culture came from don't we. The ever so tolerant left

[@michaelcoward1902]

So long as you have your scapegoats all lined up and ready to go.

[@alanfrost4661]

And all the immigrants who thought this was a good place to live in

[@rtfazeberdee3519]

ROFL.... the ones that complain the most are the hypocritical right, they hate it when its directed at them but are happy to give it out. - its always the extremes of right and left because they are 2 sides of the same coin

[@twisteddancer7773]

​@@rtfazeberdee3519It was fine until Blair got in and brought the pc lot with him

[@ryp6627]

Who has been cancelled?

[@channelsixtyeight068_]

Go away, Boomer.

[@ryp6627]

Out of touch

[@notmadonna1445]

OK boomer.

[@dodgeman777]

Who?