Debate: After Alex Salmond’s Fringe gag, should we cut the smut or just give in to the giggles?

FORMER First Minister Alex Salmond was criticised last week following a filthy gag he made at his Fringe chat show.

The joke referenced several female politicians, including Nicola Sturgeon, who said the gag belonged “in the Benny Hill era”.

Salmond, however, laughed off the comments.

But should dirty jokes like these – and smut in society – be a thing of the past?

Here, our writers have their say.

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Cheap sleaze a modern disease

By Stevie Gallacher

POOR Nicola Sturgeon.

There’s nothing our current First Minister likes more on Twitter than to point out casual sexism.

Only a few days ago she was criticising a shoe company after they named their girls’ footwear Dolly Babe, and the boys’ shoes Leader.

Well done, Nicola – you’ve had enough of girls being put down and it’s quite right you should speak up about it.

Then up pops Alex Salmond, her old mentor, to make a gag that belongs in the past to such a degree that scientists are trying to clone it and put it in Jurassic Park.

Through gritted teeth, Nicola had to come out to defend her old boss.

Her well-meaning criticism of girly shoes was forgotten as she was forced to defend the mentor who joked about sleeping with her.

It was just a gag, said his defenders, as if that magically makes it immune from being a bit sleazy and creepy.

Don’t get me wrong – if anyone asks me for an innuendo then I’m happy to give them one, hurr hurr hurr.

But to stand up on stage and crack vulgar about a female colleague 15 years your junior? Stay classy, Eck.

That’s the thing with jokes – you have to be careful who the target is, otherwise you look like that boy in your class who’d pick on the least deserving kid.

Not that the three ladies Alex included in his joke are downtrodden and defenceless, it’s more that it told women everywhere they’ll always be sex objects no matter how successful they are.

Besides, these quips, and frankly sex in general, have become rather mainstream.

Yes, I know it’s a British tradition to cackle like Sid James at Bake Off’s innuendos or when someone mentions that they always enjoy a nice pear after lunch.

But you know things have gone too far when the nation’s new favourite reality show is Love Island.

This is a show which consists of mostly nude himbos and bimbos trying to rut with each other to win money.

While it’s not outright pornography it still manages to make Benny Hill look like Anne of Green Gables.

You may like gazing at beach babes in bikinis – or muscled men in trunks if you’d prefer – for a few episodes but it doesn’t take long to tune out that much flesh.

It’s a bit like instead of making yourself a nice, boring, sensible dinner every night, you baked a dirty big chocolate cake.

It’s brilliant at first but soon you’ve ceased to enjoy cake, plus you might have Type 2 diabetes.

Not only that but you’ll have to put up with an awful lot of soggy bottom quips.

Nicola Sturgeon insists Alex Salmond is not sexist after criticism over Edinburgh Fringe show joke

Juvenile japes keep me sane

By Ali Kirker

I RECENTLY had what you might call a milestone birthday.

I wasn’t 40 and I wasn’t 60 and if anyone reckons I look 70, I’ll be having words with them.

During my life, I’ve held down several responsible jobs and brought up three amazing kids.

Well, that wasn’t just me but I was there for the ride.

But show me a street with a dodgy name, or tell me an innuendo-laden joke and I’m as juvenile as they come.

Eight-year-olds have a more grown-up view of the world.

I could never claim to have a sophisticated sense of humour.

I’m not even sure what that is. But it sounds deeply boring.

Even I believe The Benny Hill Show belongs in the ’70s and there’s no need to screen repeats.

If Graham Norton raises a knowing eyebrow after a slightly suggestive remark, though, I’m away.

It’s the stuff of saucy seaside postcards. Now, there was a fine tradition. A text home from Blackpool just isn’t quite the same.

You know those moments when you just can’t laugh because you’re in a Serious Situation?

I’ve had so many instances of trying to stifle unsuitable giggles because someone’s said something with a bit of a double meaning.

I’m pretty sure I’ve lost jobs because of smirking at something an interviewer has asked.

You can criticise me all you want.

But we live in depressing times.

Turn on the news and there’s a relentless diet of horrible stories.

If I get cheered up by a funny photo of The Chuckle Brothers and a fan, is that so bad?

And if everyone else is so sophisticated and worldly with their jokes these days, why do comedians like Alan Carr have their own shows?

He’s just a 21st Century version of Larry Grayson. Now, there was a man who knew who to tell a joke.

I even watched an old episode of Are You Being Served recently – look, it was a wet day, OK? – and totally enjoyed every minute of it.

There’s a world of difference between smut and sleaze.

Is anyone really offended by Mrs Slocombe’s pussy these days? It’s hardly Fifty Shades of Grey, is it?

And as for the antics of the desperados on Love Island, gie’s peace.

And yet I can understand why some people rolled their eyes at Alex Salmond’s joke at his Edinburgh Fringe show.

That wasn’t big and it wasn’t clever. It involved real people for a start.

But a wee laugh at a harmless innuendo now and again?

Maybe I need to grow up.

Don’t hold your breath.