Sarah Millican's most offensive joke as fans argue she should be 'banned from TV'

Comedian Sarah Millican is usually known for her soft Geordie voice and quick wit, but one of her jokes went too far for some viewers who demanded she should be banned from TV. The South Shields-born legend, 49, has starred in a number of TV shows, including 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, and Have I Got News For You? and is known for her rude punchlines and often dark, cutting observations.

One of her jokes goes: "My Dad always told me there's three things you need to have in the boot of your car: a blanket, a shovel, and a flask. And he's right - because whenever I've killed a man, I'm parched."

During her Sarah Millican: Thoroughly Modern tour, the comedian made a comment that drew ire from people, many of whom felt it could have been her most offensive joke yet. Shared on Mumsnet, one woman wrote on the popular thread Am I Being Unreasonable? that she thought Sarah Millican should never be given air time again.

Explaining her thoughts, she wrote: "Tonight, she referred to a woman's body being found in 'suspicious circumstances but that the motivation had not been sexual.'

"She then made her joke, which was: 'how awful it would be to be a murder victim but to not be considered attractive enough for anyone to think that the motivation might have been sexual. She ended by suggesting that the victim could have trimmed their pubic hair.'

"I found this beyond the pale but made even worse by the fact that Channel 4 chose to broadcast this on the day that a young woman has been found murdered.

Others were quick to agree. One user replied: "I saw this and agree - very bad taste and not even remotely funny. It made me feel sick."

Someone else wrote: "The thing that mystifies me about this generation of comedians - or should I say 'comedians' - who go for this brand of sick, deliberately provocative material is how none of them are funny. There is no humour at all in it. The aim is not to make people laugh, it is to shock, through being "edgy" (although note how in reality, they are all deeply reactionary - kicking women, the disabled, minorities, which is about as radical as PG Tips, let's face it). Since when did comedy stop being about being funny? I am watching Seinfeld right now. it is shameful how we can now offer nothing comparable in this country. Our comedians epitomise our crapness as a nation.'

But not everyone thought it was awful. One user blasted: "Sarah Millican was not making that joke about the victim, jeeez. Do you really not comprehend what she is getting at with that joke? That she is being blackly ironic about vile attitudes towards women and rape victims in our society? I despair, I really do..." Another person added: "I love her she's hilarious definitely not for anyone remotely prudish though."