BBC Doctor Who slapped with bizarre new trigger warnings as classic episode deemed ‘discriminatory about aliens’
Doctor Who’s latest animation has been hit with trigger warnings about “discriminatory” aliens and “fantasy violence”.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has issued cautions for the new four-part animated series.
Viewers are being alerted that the PG-rated The Savages features “alien beings” alongside the fantasy violence.
The warnings come as part of the classification information provided by the BBFC for the recently released Doctor Who animation.
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The BBFC specifically notes that episodes include “verbal references to discrimination and the discriminatory social structure of an alien society”.
This unusual warning highlights content related to fictional alien civilisations rather than human social issues.
The Savages has received a PG rating, suggesting it remains suitable for children with parental guidance.
The classification appears to treat the fictional alien society’s discriminatory practices with the same caution as it might real-world discrimination.
The BBC animation was released on DVD last month as a remake of original Doctor Who episodes from 1966, according to The Sun.
The episodes, which starred William Hartnell as the Doctor, were subsequently lost from the BBC archives.
This animated recreation allows fans to experience content that would otherwise be unavailable to modern audiences.
The restoration of lost episodes through animation has become a common practice for preserving classic Doctor Who stories.
The Savages represents one of several classic serials that have received this treatment in recent years.
Former Doctor Who star Matt Smith has previously criticised the use of trigger warnings in entertainment.
Smith, who played the 11th Doctor, said: “I always thought that was one of the great things about doing Doctor Who. That you scared children, in a controlled way, but you did scare them.”
He added: “I worry sometimes that we’re moving towards a sort of sanitised version of everything and we’re stripping the danger and the invention and the ingenuity out of everything. Isn’t art meant to be dangerous?”
The actor questioned whether warnings undermine the theatrical experience.
The trigger warnings for the animated episodes represent the latest instance of content advisories being applied to classic British television.
Smith had further questioned the approach to warnings, stating: “Imagine you go to kids watching Doctor Who, ‘By the way, this might scare you.’ No, I’m not into it.”