ITV's new comedy, Piglets, has sparked 106 Ofcom complaints alleging that the programme’s title and content were disrespectful to the police force.
The show, which first aired on Saturday, follows a group of recruits at a police academy and the officers tasked with whipping them into shape. It stars Sarah Parish as Superintendent Julie Spry and Friday Night Dinner star Mark Heap as her bumbling deputy Bob Weekes.
The series premiered to mixed reactions and the Police Federation slammed the show for its name and content, branding it "inflammatory" and "insulting".
Tiffany Lynch, Acting National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, told MailOnline last week: "The new ITV show titled 'Piglets' is highly offensive to police officers risking their lives to protect the public every day providing an emergency service...
"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."
Many viewers also took to social media to air their complaints. One user bemoaned: "I thought this was supposed to be funny I haven't laughed once yet,
Another wrote: "Quite concerned by the name of the show - seems to be alluding to a long forgotten 70s insult for the police which doesn't need digging up!"
A third lamented the show's content, quipping: "I've managed 15 mins. This is really dated cr**py comedy more suited to ITV2 10 years ago. Is it AI written?"
Nevertheless, some viewers have taken to social media with positive feedback. One enthusiastic viewer tweeted: "Decaided to watch #Piglets on @ITVX and I'm obsessed! This will be demolished in one go!"
Another fan echoed: "Binge watched today and gutted it only had six episodes!"
A former officer said: "@PFEW_HQ do get a grip. It's a comedy. Focus on issues that really affect your members."
Responding to the backlash, a representative for the show told the Mail: "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 next episode of Piglets will air on Saturday at 10pm on ITV.
