Piglets: A New Comedy Sparks Police Outrage
ITV's new comedy series, "Piglets," has ruffled feathers before its premiere, facing backlash over its title and perceived insensitivity towards the police force.
The show, created by the minds behind Channel 4 hits "Green Wing" and "Smack The Pony," follows a group of rookie police recruits undergoing training. The cast includes Mark Heap, known for "Spaced," and Sarah Parish, from "Broadchurch." Heap portrays Superintendent Bob Weekes, a tongue-in-cheek character, while Parish plays the stern Superintendent Julie Spry. Together, they guide these fresh-faced officers into the world of law enforcement.
Beyond the comedic elements, "Piglets" also explores real-life issues, highlighting the government's push to recruit 20,000 new police officers quickly. The show's synopsis even questions whether this rapid expansion has compromised the quality of recruits.
The controversy surrounding "Piglets" stems from its title, a play on a derogatory term often used to describe police and authority figures. This choice of name has sparked fierce criticism from the UK police force, with Tiffany Lynch, acting national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, labeling it "disgusting."
Lynch condemned the title as "highly offensive to police officers risking their lives to protect the public every day." She argued that it is "incredulous" that such a title could be approved, especially given the potential need for police assistance by ITV employees.
Mukund Krishna, chief executive of the Police Federation, echoed Lynch's sentiments, stating that the title "undermines the force" and is "an insult to our brave and hard-working members at a time when the service is fighting to attract and retain officers." He announced that the federation would be contacting Ofcom and ITV to express its disgust and demand a change.
ITV responded to the complaints, defending their show and insisting that the title wasn't intended to cause offense. A spokesperson explained that "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."
Sarah Parish, who plays a Superintendent searching for a mole within her recruits, attempted to downplay the controversy, describing the show as "silly on steroids." ITV's head of comedy, Nana Hughes, reiterated that the series was meant to be lighthearted and emphasized that "we just wanted to have a bit of fun, we certainly didnât set out to offend anyone."
Whether "Piglets" will resonate with audiences or remain entangled in this controversy remains to be seen. However, the show's premiere on ITV1 on July 20th at 9:30pm, with all six episodes available on ITVX, will undoubtedly provide a platform for viewers to judge for themselves.
