ITV has added a warning to old episodes of the classic sitcom ‘Terry and June’ that they contain “discriminatory language of the period.” The warning appears above the episodes on the streaming platform BritBox and has sparked debate among viewers.
Some viewers have argued that the warning is unnecessary, as the show is a product of its time and reflects the social attitudes of the 1980s. Others have defended the warning, saying that it is important to acknowledge the show’s use of outdated and offensive language.
Richard Madeley, a presenter on ‘Good Morning Britain,’ has weighed in on the debate, saying that he believes the warning may be needed despite his own belief that trigger warnings are “ridiculous.”
“I know on the face of it that sounds ridiculous, but actually if you look at some of the dialogue and the plotlines from Terry, on the much-loved Terry and June, it’s pretty homophobic,” Madeley said.
“You’d never dream of scripting it or making it today.”
Madeley was responding to a guest on the program who had called him a “sensitive flower” for expressing his support for trigger warnings.
“I’m not sensitive!” Madeley said. “I don’t think it should have a trigger warning, I think trigger warnings full stop are ridiculous… I hate it on the news, I know I’m watching the news!”
“I’m not arguing it should have a trigger warning.”
Terry and June is not the only classic program to receive a warning from ITV. In recent years, the broadcaster has also added warnings to episodes of ‘Dad’s Army’ and ‘The Royle Family’ for their use of discriminatory language.
The BBC has also added warnings to episodes of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and ‘The Black and White Minstrel Show’ for their use of racist content.
The debate over trigger warnings is likely to continue, as more and more classic programs are made available on streaming platforms. Some viewers argue that warnings are necessary to protect viewers from potentially harmful content, while others believe that they are unnecessary and patronizing.
