ITV comedy sparks backlash before it has even aired – as it faces calls to be renamed over ‘offensive’ title
ITV bosses have faced controversy over the title of one of their upcoming comedy shows.
The new series, which is set to start airing on July 20, follows the experiences of a group of trainee officers as they start prepping to join the police force.
However, real cops have already expressed their displeasure with the name of the show, Piglets.
The tongue in cheek title makes reference to the way that police are sometimes offensively referred to as ‘pigs’.
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.
She added: “We should not be put at further risk for viewing numbers, our officers deserve respect, not humiliation for the job they are undertaking.
“It is actually incredibly dangerous to incite more negativity and misinformation against a public sector service that’s already under so much pressure.”
Mukund Krishna, the organisation’s CEO, agreed with Tiffany’s assessment and also slammed the name of the series, calling it an “insult to our brave and hard-working members”.
Despite the backlash ITV has stood strong in their decision to air the series under the title Piglets, emphasizing that the show is fictional.
A spokesperson told GB News: “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.”
The Police Federation have made clear that they intend to reach out to Ofcom and make an official complaint about the comedy show.
The six-part series focuses on the lives of six wannabe cops as they get put through their paces at a fictional police training college.
Sarah Parish and Mark Heap are heading up the cast, playing stern Superintendent Julie Spry and more relaxed Superintendent Bob Weekes.