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| Blackadder star Sir Tony Robinson criticises Michael Gove | Blackadder star Sir Tony Robinson criticises Michael Gove |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sir Tony Robinson has criticised the education secretary for saying programmes such as Blackadder are used by "left-wing academics... to feed myths" about World War One. | |
| The actor and Labour grandee, who played Baldrick in the BBC comedy, accused Mr Gove of essentially "slagging off teachers". | |
| This week Mr Gove told the Daily Mail such television shows were used by some to depict the war as a "shambles". | |
| But he did not mention teachers. | But he did not mention teachers. |
| Mr Gove told the paper on Thursday that programmes such as Blackadder continued to be used by some "left-wing academics" to denigrate "virtues such as patriotism, honour and courage". | |
| The final series of Blackadder - set in the trenches of World War One - depicts Britain's military leaders as cowards and buffoons, in common with previous fictional accounts of the conflict such as the 1960s musical farce Oh, What a Lovely War! | The final series of Blackadder - set in the trenches of World War One - depicts Britain's military leaders as cowards and buffoons, in common with previous fictional accounts of the conflict such as the 1960s musical farce Oh, What a Lovely War! |
| 'Catastrophic mistakes' | 'Catastrophic mistakes' |
| "The war was, of course, an unspeakable tragedy, which robbed this nation of our bravest and best," writes Mr Gove. | "The war was, of course, an unspeakable tragedy, which robbed this nation of our bravest and best," writes Mr Gove. |
| "But even as we recall that loss and commemorate the bravery of those who fought, it's important that we don't succumb to some of the myths which have grown up about the conflict. | "But even as we recall that loss and commemorate the bravery of those who fought, it's important that we don't succumb to some of the myths which have grown up about the conflict. |
| 'The conflict has, for many, been seen through the fictional prism of dramas such as Oh, What a Lovely War!, The Monocled Mutineer and Blackadder, as a misbegotten shambles - a series of catastrophic mistakes perpetrated by an out-of-touch elite. | 'The conflict has, for many, been seen through the fictional prism of dramas such as Oh, What a Lovely War!, The Monocled Mutineer and Blackadder, as a misbegotten shambles - a series of catastrophic mistakes perpetrated by an out-of-touch elite. |
| "Even to this day there are left-wing academics all too happy to feed those myths." | "Even to this day there are left-wing academics all too happy to feed those myths." |
| Some scenes in Oh, What a Lovely War! were based on historian and Conservative politician Alan Clark's revisionist history of World War One, The Donkeys, which is credited with starting the trend for unflattering portrayals of World War One top brass. | Some scenes in Oh, What a Lovely War! were based on historian and Conservative politician Alan Clark's revisionist history of World War One, The Donkeys, which is credited with starting the trend for unflattering portrayals of World War One top brass. |
| 'Unhelpful' | 'Unhelpful' |
| Sir Tony, a former member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said: "I think Mr Gove has just made a very silly mistake; it's not that Blackadder teaches children the First World War. | Sir Tony, a former member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said: "I think Mr Gove has just made a very silly mistake; it's not that Blackadder teaches children the First World War. |
| "When imaginative teachers bring it in, it's simply another teaching tool; they probably take them over to Flanders to have a look at the sights out there, have them marching around the playground, read the poems of Wilfred Owen to them. And one of the things that they'll do is show them Blackadder. | "When imaginative teachers bring it in, it's simply another teaching tool; they probably take them over to Flanders to have a look at the sights out there, have them marching around the playground, read the poems of Wilfred Owen to them. And one of the things that they'll do is show them Blackadder. |
| "And I think to make this mistake, to categorise teachers who would introduce something like Blackadder as left-wing and introducing left-wing propaganda is very, very unhelpful. And I think it's particularly unhelpful and irresponsible for a minister in charge of education." | "And I think to make this mistake, to categorise teachers who would introduce something like Blackadder as left-wing and introducing left-wing propaganda is very, very unhelpful. And I think it's particularly unhelpful and irresponsible for a minister in charge of education." |
| Speaking on Sky News's Murnaghan programme, the actor and Labour activist said it was "just another example of slagging off teachers," adding: "I don't think that's professional or appropriate." | Speaking on Sky News's Murnaghan programme, the actor and Labour activist said it was "just another example of slagging off teachers," adding: "I don't think that's professional or appropriate." |
| Shadow education secretary and TV historian Tristram Hunt has also criticised Mr Gove's comments. | Shadow education secretary and TV historian Tristram Hunt has also criticised Mr Gove's comments. |
| Paxman comments | Paxman comments |
| In an article in The Observer, the Labour MP writes: "There was always a fear that the timing of the First World War anniversary alongside the May 2014 European parliament elections and the rise of UKIP could undermine a dignified response to the events of 1914-18. | In an article in The Observer, the Labour MP writes: "There was always a fear that the timing of the First World War anniversary alongside the May 2014 European parliament elections and the rise of UKIP could undermine a dignified response to the events of 1914-18. |
| "Yet few imagined the Conservatives would be this crass. The reality is clear: the government is using what should be a moment for national reflection and respectful debate to rewrite the historical record and sow political division." | "Yet few imagined the Conservatives would be this crass. The reality is clear: the government is using what should be a moment for national reflection and respectful debate to rewrite the historical record and sow political division." |
| Last October, BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, who has written a book to tie in with the centenary of the start of World War One, criticised schools for relying on episodes of Blackadder Goes Forth to teach pupils about the conflict. | Last October, BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, who has written a book to tie in with the centenary of the start of World War One, criticised schools for relying on episodes of Blackadder Goes Forth to teach pupils about the conflict. |
| The following month, Conservative defence minister Andrew Murrison, a former Royal Navy surgeon, said: "We risk disconnection from a defining event of our time and an opportunity, perhaps, to balance the Oh! What A Lovely War/Blackadder take on history, that has sadly been in the ascendant for the past 50 years." | The following month, Conservative defence minister Andrew Murrison, a former Royal Navy surgeon, said: "We risk disconnection from a defining event of our time and an opportunity, perhaps, to balance the Oh! What A Lovely War/Blackadder take on history, that has sadly been in the ascendant for the past 50 years." |