ITV comedy sparks backlash with 'offensive' title - facing calls to be renamed

A new comedy, set to air on ITV, has caused outrage among authorities as the series is set to poke fun at the police. Titled Piglets, the name is a play on words for when people refer to police officers as pigs, which is seen to be extremely derogatory and disrespectful.

The programme will be set in a fictional training college and will follow the lives of officers starting their new careers within the police. However, before the show has even aired, the Police Federation has issued a statement voicing their issues with it.

Their concerns lay mainly within the name Piglets as they deemed it as "dangerous" during a time of "threats and violence against officers". Acting National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales Tiffany Lynch believes the name of the comedy series is an insult.

She stated: "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.”

In her statement, Tiffany aired her disbelief that the name was passed through checks at the ITV.

Tiffany added: "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.

"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."

Agreeing with her outrage, Mukund Krishna, CEO of the Police Federation of England and Wales called the title of the comedy show an “insult to our brave and hard-working members.”

They blasted ITV and called the broadcaster's actions undermining as they revealed that the Federation will be writing to Ofcom and ITV to register its disgust and demand change.

According to reports, Piglets will feature six aspiring officers along with the staff who are tasked with training them all for their job.

Starring in the comedy will be Sarah Parish and Friday Night Dinner star Mark Heap who will play Superintendents Julie Spry and Bob Weekes.

An ITV 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."

It seems as though it’s not just the Federation who have taken issue with the name of the programme either.

People have aired their opinions on social media, with many not happy with the term “piglets” being used.

One person wrote: "Can you tell us the reason behind coming up with the idea and production of this show with an offensive title? Would really be interested to hear what response you come back with."

Another tweeted: "This is just totally wrong not a good name to use.”

With someone else commenting: “Don't mind a comedy but actively using a slur isn't acceptable.”

Although it seems some ITV fans haven’t an issue with the name and have argued in its favour.

One person highlighted: “It's no different to 'The thin blue line' , a host of other comedies or the 'Police Academy' franchise. Don't much like the title but hardly a priority to get in a strop about. Sort out pensions, workloads and leadership, then worry about a six-part drama. And yes I did 30."

Agreeing, another social media user added: "When we stop being able to laugh at ourselves we have become too serious.”