Jane Turner addresses problematic aspects of Kath & Kim and whether the sitcom ‘mocked Westies’
Several mid-2000s comedy shows, including Little Britain, Come Fly with Me and Bo’ Selecta, have been criticised lately due to their problematic themes.
And while popular Australian sitcom Kath & Kim hasn’t faced the same level of scrutiny, its portrayal of suburban life hasn’t been without criticism.
Jane Turner, who played matriarch Kath Day-Knight and co-wrote the series with Gina Riley, addressed claims this week the show was classist and ‘mocked Westies’.
PC problems: Jane Turner (left, as Kath Day-Knight) has addressed problematic aspects of Kath & Kim after it was claimed the popular sitcom ‘mocked Westies’. Pictured with Gina Riley
‘A newspaper critic had criticised us for mocking Westies, which I don’t think we did,’ the 59-year old actress and comedian said.
‘We [the characters] were more middle-class than that. We weren’t bogans who wore moccasins and were scungy.’
In Australian and New Zealand slang, ‘Westie’ refers to the less affluent residents of the western suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland.
Speaking out: Jane Turner (pictured with co-star Gina Riley) has responded to criticism that the show ‘mocked Westies. ‘A newspaper critic had criticised us for mocking Westies, which I don’t think we did’
Jane told TV Week that many ‘Westies’ were in fact huge fans of the show.
‘A lot of people wrote to the paper saying, “Well, we’re from thew western suburbs and we love it.”‘
Kath & Kim followed the misadventures of Kath and her daughter Kim (Gina Riley) in the fictional Melbourne outer suburb of Fountain Lake.
Running from 2002-2007 Kath & Kim was the highest-rating comedy series at the time and spawned a US remake titled Kath and Kim, a telemovie called Da Kath & Kim Code and a feature film titled, Kath & Kimderella
The iconic series, which also aired in Britain and spawned a short-lived American remake, spawned several catchphrases, including ‘look at moi’ and ‘noice’.
Running from 2002 to 2007 it was the highest-rating comedy series at the time and produced two spin-off movies, Da Kath & Kim Code and Kath & Kimderella.
In addition to Jane and Gina, the primary cast included Magda Szubanski, Glenn Robbins and Peter Rowsthorn.
All star cast: Alongside Jane (front center) and Gina (front left), the series starred plenty of Aussie talent including Magda Szubanski (fromt right), Glenn Robbins (back right) and Peter Rowsthorn (back left).
Aussie favourite: It would be hard to find an Aussie who hasn’t quoted the series iconic catchphrases, ‘look at moi,’ and ‘noice’