The Goodies are instructed by Mrs Carthorse to make an S-E-X education film where there's no reference to S-E-X; they do their best by using gender instead where S-E-X has to be used but it's not good enough.
- Abusive Parents: One of the negative letters the Goodies receive during their controversy period is from Tim’s mother.
- Accidental Hero: Blowing up the BBC Television Centre gets Mrs. Carthorse to congratulate the Goodies, since with ITV being the only network available, nobody wants to watch television anymore.
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: After a string of legitimate sounding critique of the film, the presenter finishes with “a bit off”.
- Biting-the-Hand Humour: In perhaps the ultimate example of this trope, the climax has Bill blow up the BBC Television Centre
- Bloodier and Gorier: Bill’s production of Sinderella, which has Cinders shot dead by Buttons because it’s “St. Valentine’s Day”, and a scene where the Princes strangles the Ugly Stepsisters. There’s also a scene involving a hangman’s noose.
- Bowdlerise In-Universe example with “How to Make Babies by Doing Dirty Things”, the gender education film made by the Goodies with no mention of sex.This is a man. And this… isn’t.
- Complaining About Shows You Don't Watch: The movie produced by the Goodies is so absurdly coy it couldn’t possibly offend anyone. But the use of the word “gender” in the opening titles causes Mrs. Carthorse to refuse to watch the rest and turn the trio into pariahs. The fact that the word can easily be changed means nothing to her.Tim: You mean you’re going to condemn the film without even seeing it?
Mrs. Carthorse: Why should I change the habit of a lifetime? - Dodgy Toupee: The presenter the Goodies clear their name in front of reveals that he’s wearing one when the show is finished taping.
- Hypocrite:
- Mrs. Carthorse criticises the script for The Goodies’ film, despite having written it herself.
- The BBC criticised the Goodies’ film along with everyone else, but deliberately put out much worse during the controversy, and eventually hire the Goodies to produce more violent programming.
- Newhart Phone Call: Mrs. Carthorse walks into the Goodies office while Tim is trying to call her, resulting in him thinking he’s got through to her until he turns around to find her sitting down.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Mrs. Desiree Carthorse is an obvious potshot at real world moral guardian Mary Whitehouse.
- In a similar vein, the MP the Goodies impersonate is a Take That! at Gerald Nabarro, described as a backbench MP who appears on talk shows to give looney, extremist points of view and receive free publicity and cheques in return.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: The Goodies’ disguise themselves as Sir Reginald Wheelbarrow by dressing in identical suits, wearing a comically long false moustache and Talking In Unison. Yet the presenter is surprised to learn that there were three people inside the costume.
- Take That!: It’s clear from the episode the lads were none too fond of Mary Whitehouse, given how crass they make her seem.Tim: Mrs. Carthorse. It is Mrs. Carthorse, isn’t it?
Mrs. Carthorse: Yes.
Bill: What does your husband do?
Mrs. Carthorse: He keeps his distance. - Victory Is Boring: The absence of the BBC from the airwaves leaves a hole in Mrs. Carthorse’s evening routine of turning her television on and off.
- What Do You Mean, It's for Kids?: In-Universe, Tim is disgusted that Bill’s Bloodier and Gorier Cinderella movie is aimed at kids.
