ITV has slapped warning labels on re-runs of one of the nation’s best-loved sitcoms, Terry and June, due to its outdated and potentially offensive language. The classic TV series, which originally aired from 1979 to 1987, stars Dame June Whitfield and Terry Scott as a suburban couple in their empty nest. At its height, Terry and June commanded audiences of 15 million viewers. Specific instances of problematic language in the series have not been disclosed by ITV, but fan Paul Phipps-Williams shared on social media an example from an episode where Terry accidentally wears June’s perfume to a work conference. Phipps-Williams claims the episode features homophobic jokes centered around his boss’s hatred of gays and Terry’s fear of being perceived as homosexual. In response to the concerns raised, ITV has stated that it regularly reviews historical programming to assess the need for warnings, provide context, and ensure appropriate guidance is in place. This move follows a similar decision by the BBC to issue content notes on certain episodes of classic shows such as Fawlty Towers and Little Britain due to outdated racist and homophobic language. The decision to label Terry and June with a language warning is a reflection of the evolving societal attitudes towards offensive language and the need to ensure that content consumed by audiences is appropriate and respectful of diverse perspectives.
ITV Warns of ‘Discriminatory Language’ in ‘Terry and June’ Re-runs
