Latest news with #triggerWarning
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Now it's The Royle Family's turn for BBC trigger warning: Sitcom contains 'discriminatory language'
It left fans in stitches across three critically acclaimed seasons with its slice of Manchester life, spawning some classic catchphrases. But the fun is over for The Royle Family after the iconic sitcom became the latest show to be slapped with a BBC trigger warning. Seven episodes have been flagged by regulators thanks to 'discriminatory language some viewers may find offensive'. The notices, which can be seen on iPlayer, do not explain which scenes contribute towards the warnings, The Sun reports. No episodes from series one have received the content alert but episodes one, three and six from series two, which aired in 1999, and episode one from series three, which went out in 2000, have been deemed offensive. The latter perhaps has something to do with Anthony Royle, played by Ralf Little, describing a friend as a 'batty boy'. Two of the five Christmas specials, from 2008 and 2009, have also been adorned with the warning. It's not the first time the corporation has flagged the show to viewers for being potentially problematic. In 2021, a scene where TV-obsessed protagonist Jim, played by Ricky Tomlinson, calls celebrity interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen a 'nancy boy' was highlighted. At its peak, 12 million people watched each episode of The Royle Family with lead character Jim a fan favourite, partly for his famous catchphrase, 'my a*se'. The show also starred Sue Johnston as his wife Barbara and Caroline Ahern as their daughter Denise Best, as well as Craig Cash, Little and Liz Smith. The last of the series' 25 episodes was broadcast on Christmas Day 2012. The BBC has been approached for comment. It comes just days after the BBC also hit The Fast Show with a disclaimer. Originally airing in the 90s, the classic stars Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson with quick-fire sketches that depicted British society at the time. However, its infamous Suit You, Sir scenes have been hit with a 'woke' warning by BBC bosses. The Sun revealed two episodes contain the warning, which advises viewers of 'discriminatory language' before they can play the show. One episode from series three, that aired in December 1997, carries a scene where the tailors ask a customer if they would like to have sex with a 'she-male'. In reply, the customer says: 'Come on you tr**nies!' Meanwhile, an episode from the second series that originally broadcast in 1996, sees two men make advances on women. When they're swiftly rejected, the pair declare the women are 'lesbians'. The Fast Show aired for four series on the BBC before it was axed by bosses in 1997 after 28 episodes, which are all now available on iPlayer. The BBC also recently hit Ricky Gervais's comedy series The Office with a similar warning. The hit mockumentary sitcom created by comedian Gervais, 64, as well as Stephen Merchant, famously stars him as paper company boss David Brent. Both series of the noughties programme were already labelled with a G symbol on BBC iPlayer, which flags parental guidance for younger viewers. But nearly half of the BBC series' 14 episodes, following life at Wernham Hogg's Slough office, now also carry the additional content notice. In series one, which aired in 2001, the first and last episodes - Downsize and Judgement - bear the alert. Meanwhile, a whopping half of the second series, released in 2002, has been hit with trigger warnings - episodes one, three and five, named Merger, Party and Charity. At the start of the year it was revealed how Only Fools and Horses was hit with various disclaimers around 'racial language', words that 'may offend' and 'dated attitudes and behaviours'. Only two of seven series of the eighties hit show - which is available to watch on ITV and often reruns on digital channel U&Gold - did not have any episodes at all slapped with the warnings.
Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Rachel Zegler's Evita criticised for ‘loud music' trigger warning
A West End revival of Evita includes a trigger warning for 'loud music and sudden noises'. The production at the London Palladium, which stars Rachel Zegler in her UK stage debut, also warns audiences they could be upset by strobe lighting, flashing lights and haze. Zegler, 24, plays the titular role of Eva Perón in a production of Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's musical, which follows the story of Perón as she rises from poverty to become the most powerful woman in Latin America. Toby Young, director of the Free Speech Union, said: 'Warning fans of musical theatre that they may hear loud music and sudden noises is beyond parody. Just how stupid do theatre owners think their customers are? 'I cannot imagine someone who's paid £350 for a pair of tickets to Evita complaining that it contains loud music. They'd be more likely to complain if it didn't.' Trigger warnings, which alert audiences to potentially upsetting material, have become an increasing trend in theatre productions over recent years. Shakespeare's Globe issued 'content guidance' last year for a production of Antony and Cleopatra, warning that it contained 'depictions of suicide, scenes of violence and war, and misogynoir references'. In 2023, an ableism trigger warning was added to A Midsummer Night's Dream after the Globe cast an actor with dwarfism, Francesca Mills. Producers explained that audiences may become distressed by Helena's famous line: 'Though she be but little, she is fierce.' The theatre also attached a warning to a 2021 production of Romeo and Juliet over its 'depictions of suicide, moments of violence and references to drug use', plus gunshot sound effects and the use of fake blood. Such warnings have been criticised by some of Britain's most prestigious actors. Sir Ian McKellen scoffed at a trigger warning on a recent play, Frank and Percy, which mentioned strong language, sexual references, and themes of grief and death. 'I think it's ludicrous,' he said. 'I quite like to be surprised by loud noises and outrageous behaviour on stage.' Dame Judi Dench said last year: 'I can see why they exist, but if you're that sensitive, don't go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked. Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?' Ralph Fiennes also added: 'We didn't used to have trigger warnings. There are very disturbing scenes in Macbeth, terrible murders and things, but I think the impact of theatre is that you should be shocked and you should be disturbed.' Another talking point of the new Evita production, directed by Jamie Lloyd, is Zegler's performance of the musical's best-known song, Don't Cry for Me Argentina, from the theatre's outside balcony on Argyll Street. While her rendition has delighted members of the public, paying audience members have been forced to watch it on a screen via a live video link inside the theatre. One person wrote on social media: 'Sorry, are you saying I've paid £350 for 2 tickets and she's singing the biggest number outside at people who haven't paid?' Another said they 'go to the theatre to share the same space with a performer'. The Colombian-American actress and soprano, who won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Maria in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, starred in Disney's embattled ' woke ' Snow White film earlier this year. She came under fire for describing the beloved 1937 animation as 'extremely dated' and likening the prince's behaviour to that of a 'stalker'. There was added controversy over her clashing views with Gal Gadot, her Israeli co-star, on the war in Gaza, and she was forced to backtrack after scolding Donald Trump voters. The London Palladium has been contacted for comment.
