BBC Three did itself no favours anointing Lee Nelson as its de facto mascot. His omnipresence confirmed the broadsheet stereotype of a broadcaster ruthlessly pursuing the lowest common denominator. More damning, though, was that it resulted in zero laughs. Not even a jaded cackle. Which begs the question- why Lee Nelson? Becausebecause Lee Nelson was really Simon Brodkin, a multi-award winning stand-up comedian. With comedy culture dominated by mop-headed oafs, its gongs- not, yknow, actual comic ability- that determine merit, although to be fair on him, Brodkin isnt terrible. Hes enthusiastic, his timing is decent, and at least hes not an Oxbridge wiseguy. On the debit side, Lee Nelson was literally just Ali G without satire. He was a white man who acted like a black man. What was then known as a chav, and is now known as, er, Britains growing underclass. Brodkins only experience of same was when his taxi took a wrong turn through a (slightly) rough part of town en route to him introducing Hard Fi at the O2 Academy. Probably. Regardless, its all a bit iffy. All a bit class war-y. Which is probably why BBC Three did push him so hard. For the zappucino guzzling executive hive-mind, a backwards cap and happy slapping signified topicality, while the complete lack of comic innovation allowed it to be background telly for self-aware chavs. And in its deeply clapped out way, the show represented an authentic missive from the soft cruelties of coalition-threatened Britain. So yeah. QUALITEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!