The Question Of Innuendo

I love Innuendo. I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s when programs such as The Two Ronnies and the ‘Carry on’ films were readily repeated on television. I love The Two Ronnies and still find them funny now.

I once saw an interview where Ronnie Barker was defending the use of innuendo, saying that adults would understand the innuendo in all its glory, but children would take it at face value. The result was a program that, whilst full of sexual references, was still suitable for children and could be watched by the ‘family’ and equally enjoyed by all. It also leaves the children asking, “What does he mean by plums?” or “What does ‘Twin Peaks’ mean?” 'or “What’s a ’Stiff One’?” and it leaves the adults in the room looking knowingly at each other, sharing the joke.

I think that David Mitchell makes a really good point, that innuendo stops being funny when everybody understands what is being said. But as a parent, innuendo is great fun, not just when it’s on television, but also as a secret way of communicating with and sharing joke with other adults in the room.