Father Ted outrage as beloved Channel 4 series slapped with ‘woke’ trigger warnings for ‘racial impersonations’
Channel 4’s streaming service has added a trigger warning to a 1998 episode of Father Ted over concerns about racial impersonation and potentially offensive language.
The warning appears before “Are You Right There, Father Ted?”, the first episode of series three of the acclaimed Irish comedy.
The episode follows Father Ted, played by the late Dermot Morgan, as he becomes embroiled in a series of misunderstandings that lead his Craggy Island parishioners to believe he is racist.
In one scene, Father Ted dons a lampshade on his head in what appears to mock Chinese people, unaware that the new Chinese family, the Yins, are watching through the window.
Later in the episode, Ted attempts to explain his actions whilst standing at the window, making animated hand gestures.
Due to an unfortunate black square of dirt on the window that aligns with his face like a moustache, he inadvertently resembles Hitler.
These mishaps lead Ted to spend the remainder of the episode trying to convince the local community that he is not “a bit of a racist”.
Channel 4’s streaming service now displays a notice reading: “This episode was made in 1998 and contains language and racial impersonation which some viewers may find offensive.”
Graham Linehan, the show’s co-creator, has previously defended the episode’s content.
“We wrote that episode partly to shame racist idiots,” Linehan explained.
He argued that the offensive nature of the language and behaviour in 1998 was intentional, as it was the point of the satire.
Toby Young, leader of the Free Speech Union, has strongly criticised Channel 4’s decision to add the trigger warning.
“This episode mocked our age’s hypersensitivity, something already apparent 27 years ago,” Young said.
“For Channel 4 to attach a trigger warning shows nothing has changed. The scolds and finger-waggers are as humourless as ever.”
Young emphasised that the language and behaviour were considered offensive even in 1998, stating that “that was the point” of the satire.
The trigger warning on Father Ted follows a similar move by ITVX regarding the classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
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All seven series of the 1980s hit now feature various content warnings for “outdated attitudes” and racial language.
The Christmas special from 1985 includes a message warning of “dated attitudes and behaviours and racist language some viewers may find offensive.”
The move has sparked criticism on social media, with one viewer commenting: “It takes a brave platform to showcase a comedy. People are desperate to be outraged and offended in this country.” (sic)