Richard Madeley blasts claim he’s ‘sensitive’ after ITV adds trigger warning to classic 80s sitcom-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Richard Madeley has been left insisting he’s not ‘sensitive’, after his reaction to ITV adding a ‘discriminatory language’ warning to old episodes of 80s sitcom Terry and June on its streaming service.

The BBC programme was broadcast originally between 1979 to 1987, but rerun episodes of all nine seasons area available on ITV’s Britbox.

The show followed Terry Scott and Dame June Whitfield as a middle-aged, middle-class suburban couple.

But above the episodes on the streaming platform, ITV has now warned: ‘Contains discriminatory language of the period.’

They said in a statement, as shared with MailOnline: ‘Programming that contains potentially sensitive language has carried appropriate warnings since our launch. 

‘We regularly re-examine historical programming in order to review, re-label, provide context and ensure the right guidance is in place.’

Terry and June aired between 1979 to 1987 on BBC (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)

Rerun episodes now include a content warning over ‘discriminatory language’ (Picture: John Curtis/REX/Shutterstock)

It’s not clear which episode is of concern, or of the specific language used, but viewers have been speculating.

Paul wrote on X: ‘There’s an episode where Terry is at a work conference and puts June’s perfume on by mistake.

‘The entire episode is about how his boss hates gays, and how Terry is terrified about being thought of one. Cue every 70s homophobic comedy trope.’

Others have been left shocked by the warning, with many arguing against it needing one and outraged that it was included.

@northernertweet fumed: ‘Good grief, Terry and June needing a trigger warning… Isn’t it a bit late for April Fools?’

@nicolarr also seethed: ‘Ridiculous to have trigger warning on Terry & June! People offended need to get a grip!’

The series starred Terry Scott and June Whitfield (Picture: TV Times via Getty Images)

They played a middle-aged, middle-class suburban couple (Picture: Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images)

However, Richard Madeley explained why he thinks it may need one, despite insisting he doesn’t think it ‘should’ and shutting down an accusation he’s ‘sensitive’ on Good Morning Britain.

Calling trigger warnings ‘ridiculous’ he said: ‘Now I know on the face of it that sounds ridiculous, but actually if you look at some of the dialogue and the plotlines from Terry, on the much-loved Terry and June, it’s pretty homophobic.’

The presenter, 67, went on: ‘You’d never dream of scripting it or making it today.’

After being called a ‘sensitive flower’ by a guest on the programme, Richard hit back: ‘I’m not sensitive!’

He then added: ‘I don’t think it should have a trigger warning, I think trigger warnings full stop are ridiculous… I hate it on the news, I know I’m watching the news!’

‘I’m not arguing it should have a trigger warning.’

Richard Madeley was left defending himself after being called ‘sensitive’ (Picture: ITV)

@daftbanna also defended: ‘@GMB on the warnings for Terry and June, it’s there to remind people that what you watching is now considered unacceptable. Why is this an issue? – is it because really you don’t think it is.’

Terry and June isn’t the only programme to give viewers a warning, with ITV and BBC both sharing similar warnings in recent years.

A 1971 Dad’s Army film warned viewers about ‘discriminatory language’ over ‘one racially derogatory phrase’, while the BBC has defended the warning on The Royle Family for ‘adult humour’ and ‘discriminatory language’ in certain episodes.

Meanwhile, in 2021, Only Fools and Horses received a racist content warning when it was added to BritBox.

Metro.co.uk has approached ITV for comment.

Terry and June is available to watch on ITVX.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1.

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