ITV has added a trigger warning to classic children’s programme Worzel Gummidge, citing “language of the period that may offend” as a caution for contemporary viewers. The show, which originally aired from 1979 to 1981, is based on Barbara Euphan Todd’s books and features Jon Pertwee as the titular scarecrow who comes to life. The series, created by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, ran for four series and 31 episodes and is currently available on the ITVX streaming platform.
The warning advises viewers to consider parental controls before watching. Some episodes include scenes where characters exchange insults indicative of the show's period language. For example, Worzel calls Sally a “worm-riddled old skittle” and threatens, “I'll knock your silly wooden head off,” while Sally retaliates by hitting him with a shovel. Regular cast members included Una Stubbs, Geoffrey Bayldon, Barbara Windsor, Bill Maynard, and Lorraine Chase. A modern adaptation starring Mackenzie Crook aired on BBC One in 2019.
The addition of warnings is not confined to ITV. The BBC’s Doctor Who spin-off, The Savages, first broadcast in 1966 and featuring the first Doctor William Hartnell, has recently been reissued in an animated format on DVD. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has assigned it a PG rating, with advisories relating to “verbal references to discrimination and the discriminatory social structure of an alien society,” as well as “mild threats,” “scary scenes,” “discrimination references,” and “mild violence.” The original live-action episodes remain missing from the BBC archives.
Television actor Matt Smith, known for his portrayal of the 11th Doctor, expressed criticism of trigger warnings in a 2023 interview with The Times. He remarked that the modern proliferation of such warnings reduces the impact of traditional thriller narratives by alerting audiences to distressing content beforehand. Smith said, “I worry everything’s being dialled and dumbed down. We’re telling audiences they’re going to be scared before they’ve watched something.” He further commented, “Ah, trigger warnings—the tedious modern idea that adults cannot cope with being upset by art. Isn’t being shocked, surprised, stirred the point?” Smith has pursued complex roles portraying “messed-up people” to tell morally challenging stories, which he regards as vital.
Similarly, the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, known for its status as feel-good television since the 1980s, has been retroactively given trigger warnings related to “offensive racial language” and “dated attitudes.” Distributed via the ITVX platform, the show’s early episodes such as “The Russians are Coming,” “The Yellow Peril,” and “Who’s a Pretty Boy” have disclaimers about their language reflective of the time. Episodes in later series also carry warnings, including the 1985 Christmas special which notes “dated attitudes and behaviours and racist language some viewers may find offensive.” The series continues to be broadcast on channels such as U&Gold, where these warnings have likewise been applied.
These recent developments regarding trigger warnings across various British television classics illustrate a broader trend in addressing historical content that may no longer align with contemporary social sensibilities while remaining accessible to current audiences.
Source: Noah Wire Services