Comedian Peter Kay has left the heads at American Netflix somewhat perplexed due to his use of a quintessentially English phrase. Peter, who made a rare appearance since stepping back from the spotlight, features in the festive Wallace and Gromit film Vengeance Most Fowl.
His return to TV for the first time in four years sees him voice Chief Inspector Mackintosh. However, his delivery of the phrase “flippin’ Nora” raised concerns among Netflix executives, who feared it might be an offensive term.
The phrase, which is commonly expressed in disbelief or dismay, particularly in the North of England, came as Chief Inspector Mackintosh reacts to the escape of the villainous penguin, Feathers McGraw.
The genius creator behind the hit show revealed that Peter, 51, left Netflix bosses baffled with the phrase – which he in fact had ad-libbed himself, as an improvisation away from the script.
“Peter ad-libs quite a lot. At one point he’s astonished at something and shouts ‘Flippin Nora’.”said Nick Park, from animators Aardman Creative director Merlin Crossingham confirmed they had to quickly clarify to the concerned Netflix team that the phrase was completely “innocent”, reports the Mirror.
Merlin explained: “[We had to explain to them that] it’s not rude, it’s not an expletive, it’s an innocent turn of phrase’.”
(Image: BBC)
The eagerly-awaited new Wallace and Gromit film is set to make its global debut on Netflix next week, following a stellar Christmas Day showing on BBC 1 that captured the attention of nine million viewers. Meanwhile, admirers of the Farnworth comic Peter Kay might recollect his previous stateside shows which left the US audience bemused.
Reflecting on a 2009 Los Angeles performance where he joked about British celebs and car-boot sales, Peter Kay told the attendees: “I’m sorry if you found that hard to understand but there was comedy in there somewhere.”
Fans will be thrilled to learn that Kay has reprised his role as Chief Inspector Mackintosh for the film, a promotion from his former rank of a police constable in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. As a cherished fixture in British comedy, Peter Kay is known for creating hit series like That Peter Kay Thing, Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere, and Car Share.
Having last appeared on TV in the 2020 series of Car Share, Kay delighted fans with an announcement in November of his return to the comedy tour circuit after a hiatus of 12 years.
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