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Are BBC's old favourites getting a PC makeover? Steptoe, Alf and Hyacinth all set to return with new stars (and a lot less racism, sexism and homophobia)

Politically incorrect jokes of the time could be toned down for modern sensibilities
Even title of 1967 episode of Till Death Us Do Part that is being remade, A Woman's Place Is In The Home, might give some viewers pause for thought
Remains to be seen how BBC will get round episodes from time it was acceptable to make jokes some would view racist, sexist or homophobic
BBC announced 'landmark sitcom' season yesterday and will run this summer
See more news on the BBC at www.dailymail.co.uk/bbc

By Sam Creighton Tv And Radio Reporter For The Daily Mail

Published: 00:13 GMT, 11 March 2016 | Updated: 14:38 GMT, 11 March 2016

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In decades past they were the must-see shows that kept the nation laughing.

And the BBC is hoping they have lost none of their comic appeal as it brings classics including Till Death Us Do Part, Are You Being Served? and Porridge back to screens.

But viewers may not recognise everything about the new incarnations. Not only are they being made with new casts – most of the original stars are dead – but the politically incorrect jokes of the time could be toned down for modern sensibilities.

Steptoe and Son: The show ran from 1962-1974 and was watched by 28million viewers - a famous quote is Harold Steptoe says to his father Albert: 'You dirty old man'

Till Death Do Us Part: The programme ran from 1965 to 1975 and was seen by 20million people - it is well remembered for when Alf Garnett says 'silly moo' and 'you scouse git'

Keeping Up Appearances: Ran from 1990 to 1995, was watched by 12million people and starred Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift

From the bigoted comments of Alf Garnett in Till Death Us Do Part to the flamboyance of Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served?, some elements might now be seen as inappropriate.

Even the title of the 1967 episode of Till Death Us Do Part that is being remade – A Woman's Place Is In The Home – might give some modern viewers pause for thought.

Written in a time when it was acceptable to make jokes some would now consider racist, sexist or homophobic, it remains to be seen how the BBC will get around such issues.

The BBC announced its 'landmark sitcom' season yesterday. It will run this summer to mark 60 years since Hancock's Half Hour appeared on BBC television, having been a radio hit.

However, while many will be pleased to see characters such as Hyacinth Bucket and Alf Garnett take another bow on screen, others have questioned whether the BBC is running out of ideas.

Pamela Bannister, the widow of Trevor Bannister who played Mr Lucas in the original Are You Being Served?, said: 'It's a bit sad that perhaps we don't have the writers now to produce original stuff, and they have to rehash old classics. It would be preferable to invent something new. Trevor may have thought the same.

'It'll be interesting to see what the Are You Being Served? remake will be like. I will watch it, and I wish it well. If it's a success, fantastic – you don't pray for things to be a failure. It's such a shame none of the original cast is still around.'

Hancock's Half Hour: The show started in 1954 and ran for seven years and starred Tony Hancock and Sidney James

Up Pompeii! Ran from 1969 to 1970 with specials in 1975 and 1991 - a famous quote is when Lurcio said: 'Titter ye not!' and 'Get your titters out missus!'

Are You Being Served? The show ran from 1972 to 1985 and was viewed by 22million people

Porridge: Ran for three years between 1974 and 1977 and starred Ronnie Barker, Brian Wilde, Fulton Mackay and Richard Beckinsale

Other shows include Porridge, with a sequel which sees Fletcher's grandson in jail for cyber-crimes, and a prequel to Keeping Up Appearances, called Young Hyacinth, by original writer Roy Clarke.

Episodes of Steptoe And Son and Hancock's Half Hour which are no longer in the archive are also being recreated.

Several original comedies have also been commissioned as part of the season.