ITV has found itself at the centre of an Ofcom storm after over 100 viewers complained to the broadcasting regulator over new sitcom, Piglets.
According to the latest weekly audience report published by the regulator, Piglets was slapped with 106 lodged complaints.
An Ofcom spokesperson told GB News that the "complaints alleged that the programme’s title and content were disrespectful to the police force".
The six-part comedy series is set in a fictional police training college and follows a group of budding and hapless trainee cops with ambitions of starting a career in law enforcement.
Green Wing creator Victoria Pile leads the team of writers responsible for the show while the cast is led by Mark Heap and Sarah Parish.
The complaints to Ofcom echo those of the Police Federation of England and Wales who'd already branded its title as "disgusting" and "highly offensive to police officers risking their lives".
ITV Piglets: The name of the show has sparked a flood of Ofcom complaints
ITV
ITV was forced to defend the show's title before its premiere episode had even aired on the channel this past Saturday.
In response to the police's complaints, it said: "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.”
ITV is yet to publicly respond to the Ofcom complaints. GB News has contacted ITV for comment.
However, series writer Pile and leading star Heap both addressed the controversy surrounding the show's name in a new interview earlier this week.
New Intel 🚨 Arresting new comedy Piglets - coming soon to ITV and @ITVX 👮 pic.twitter.com/yXUVXXbBX5
— ITV (@ITV) June 29, 2024
Speaking to Radio Times, Heap stood by the name and said: "It’s not a documentary.
"It’s not a satire on the police – it’s just a nice structure. It’s the ‘sit’ in which to put the ‘com’."
Heap echoed his friend and collaborator's stance as he said in the same chat: "It’s a workplace with all the usual challenges and romances.
"Whether it’s a hospital, a police training college or a university, it’s still got the same human condition at its heart.
"Our little group wants to explore the real ways that people behave – and pull it out a little bit at the corners and go for the extreme.”
News of official complaints to Ofcom may come as no surprise to ITV bosses given the volume of irked reactions to the show's title that have dominated conversation on social media.
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ITV Piglets: Mark Heap is one of the biggest names among the cast
ITV
Both before and after the premiere of Piglets aired, complaints flooded in on X, formerly Twitter, with one person fuming: "Piglets. Extremely offensive to all serving and retired police officers. Ofcom needs to address the title with ITV, shame on them."
A second echoed: "@Ofcom @ITV @ITVX - this is absolutely disgraceful, using the term 'piglets' as the shows name is diabolical. Officers on a day to day basis have to go through abuse from members of the public using terminology similar the title. For you to think this is acceptable is beyond me."
Another also argued: "@Ofcom @ITV how disgusting that you can justify calling a new series about police recruits 'Piglets'. I served for 27 years and was called a 'Pig' on several occasions when trying to protect the public. This is insulting to both serving and retired officers. Shame on you."
Meanwhile, a fourth said: "Another load of rubbish from ITV, Piglets the name derogatory, the humour pathetic and anyone associated should be sacked. Neither BBC or ITV can produce a comedy. The police must despair as well as viewers."
However, there has been some support for the new comedy after its debut, including one viewer who hit back: "Just seen some reactions to the new itv comedy Piglets. The types of people who very likely normally moan about ‘woke’ and ‘people being offended by everything these days’ it’s kind of funny seeing them lose their s**t over a comedy program title. Get over it snowflakes."
And another praised: "I really enjoyed #piglets. First ep not fantastic (pilots are soooo hard) but it really grew into itself, and there were loads of funny bits and felt like it could blossom into a very good series indeed. Sarah Parish was phenomenal. Would totally watch S2." (sic)
