ITV hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints in row over hit new drama
FURIOUS ITV viewers have bombarded broadcasting watchdog Ofcom with hundreds of complaints over the channel’s new drama series.
The focus of the angry correspondence centres on issues of a “disrespectful” nature.
Those tuning in to Piglets, aired on ITV this month, were less than impressed with its colloquial reference to the police force.
The drama is a fictional comedy based on a police training academy, with Sarah Parish and Mark Heap as the lead stars.
Last week, we reported how it had attracted 100 complaints to Ofcom.
Now the number has doubled, with a total of 200 recorded in this week’s analysis.
An Ofcom spokesperson flagged the episode aired on July 20 and wrote: “Complainants considered that the programme’s title and/or content was disrespectful to the police force.
“These are additional complaints to those for the same issue reported last week, and the cumulative total is 200.”
The Sun’s columnist Ally Ross described the drama as “crude” as well as saying the drama made the broadcaster look “pathetically dated.”
Yet backlash to the series was sparked before it even aired.
The Police Federation issued a statement hitting out at the name of the series, with the Acting Chair calling it “disgusting.”
Tiffany Lynch, Acting National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The new ITV show titled Piglets is highly offensive to police officers risking their lives to protect the public every day by providing an emergency service.
It is a disgusting choice of language to use for the title of a TV programme.
“Our colleagues are working hard and keeping people safe under relentless negative pressure at the moment, insulting our new in service officers is unhelpful.
“The name of this show is also inflammatory against a landscape of rising threats and violence against officers.”
A spokesperson for ITV then released a statement in response reading: “Piglets is a fictional new comedy about a police training academy and the title is not intended to cause any offence, it’s a comedic and endearing play on words to emphasise the innocence and youth of our young trainees.”
One viewer took to X to comment on the episodes, and wrote: “Disappointed, especially given the talent.”
Another posted: “ITV you’re actually still gonna go ahead and show the next episode of #Piglets on Saturday?
“It was one of the worst, most unfunny comedies that’s ever been broadcast. It’s utter f**king pigs**t.”
A third was less than impressed and put: “Seriously bad and unfunny; it’s been booted to past midnight.
“Very poor.”