Main content

Dieudonne: France's Most Dangerous Comedian?

What does the popularity of controversial comedian Dieudonne tell us about France today? Helen Grady meets some of his supporters and those who think he's a dangerous anti-Semite.

Dieudonne has divided France with his controversial comedy. His shows are sold out, his videos get millions of hits online, and people around the world from firefighters to famous footballers have been photographed doing the 'quenelle', a gesture he popularised. Many fans see Dieudonne and the quenelle as expressing their anger and disillusionment with 'the system'. But the French government has banned his shows and his opponents say Dieudonne is a dangerous anti-Semite who is popularising the ideas of the extreme-right. Helen Grady investigates why Dieudonne has become so popular, and whether his critics are right to claim he's become a 'recruiting sergeant' for the French National Front.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 30 Jan 2014 20:00

Broadcast

  • Thu 30 Jan 2014 20:00

Featured in...

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

The Best of The Report

Listen again to the best investigations from The Report team

Podcast