Plans branded 'beyond callous'

A petition against Channel 4’s decision to explore a comedy set against the backdrop of the Irish famine has attracted almost 30,000 signatures.

The broadcaster has commissioned a script from Dublin writer Hugh Travers – who has described the show, called Hungry, as ‘Shameless in famine Ireland’.

But although nothing has yet been confirmed for broadcast, a petition at change.org has netted more than 29,000 supporters from Ireland, the US, the UK, Australia, France, Sweden, Turkey, Canada and New Zealand in just four days.

It calls on Channel 4 not to make the series, saying: ‘Famine or genocide is no laughing matter, approximately 1 million Irish people died and another 2 million were forced to emigrate because they were starving. Any programme on this issue would have to be of serious historical context not, repeat not, a comedy.’

Among those signing was Sheelagh Hanley, of the Famine Commemoration Committee in Sligo, whose comment was typical: ‘The suggestion that a comedy show would be made about such a horrific time and such deprivation and suffering is beyond callous and unfeeling. I am shocked as are my family and all those whose relatives were part of this holocaust.’

Many protesters also expressed dismay at an English-based broadcaster commissioning the show, when it was the actions of the British government and landlords which made the 1845 to 1852 potato blight into such a tragedy.

Channel 4 have confirmed the commission from Travers and Irish-based production company Grand Pictures, but clarified: ‘This is in the development process and is not currently planned to air.’

The broadcaster added: ‘It’s not unusual for sitcoms to exist against backdrops that are full of adversity and hardship’ 


The controversy arose after 31-year-old Travers spoke of his plans for 2015 in the Irish Times. He told the newspaper: ‘Well, they say “comedy equals tragedy plus time”. I don’t want to do anything that denies the suffering that people went through, but Ireland has always been good at black humour.’

And the idea has its supporters, too. Irish musical comics The Rubberbandits tweeted: ‘To every Irish person getting offended that C4 have commissioned a sitcom about the famine; this is why Joyce and Beckett left the country.’

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Published: 5 Jan 2015