And here are some reasons why...

It was the epitome of the cosy family sitcom, a byword for sedate suburban comedy .

So fans of long-running show Terry And June have been surprised to see the programme was slapped with a trigger warning on streaming services.

Several episodes of the programme on ITVX and Britbox carry the disclaimer that they ‘contain discriminatory language of the period’.

The decision has riled conservative commentators with The Sun’s editorial column today saying: ‘The obsessive wokery is funnier than the show ever was.’

However, some scripts feature lines and plot points that would certainly be considered problematic – if not downright offensive – by today's standards.

Episodes with trigger warnings include the very first episode from 1979, showing the married couple played by Terry Scott and June Whitfield, moving into their home in Purley, Surrey.

Because it still has a ‘for sale’ sign outside it, a man of Indian descent calls at the door and inquires about buying it, but after a chat about the property, Scott clarifies: ‘It was for sale, but it’s not any longer.’

The caller, played by Tariq Yunus, says: ‘I see, is it because of my colour?’

Scott stammers in response ‘Good heavens no ,some of my best friends are awfully coloured.’

The joke is at Scott’s awkwardness, but after their exchange Whitfield asks her screen husband who he was talking to, and he replies: ‘Some wo… some Indian chap.’ 

Later Scott ends up with his head bandaged and a neighbour taunts him: ‘What have you come as, Sabu The Elephant Boy?’

In another episode Terry’s boss comes to a barbecue wearing Native American fancy dress, with stereotypical accent.

And when Terry stands for the local council, an adviser talks about courting ‘the coloured vote’ by asking: ‘How do you feel about blacking up?’

In another episode – which does not carry a trigger warning – Terry is at a work conference and puts June's perfume on by mistake.

As X user Paul Phipps-Williams said: ‘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.'

At one point, the boss says: ‘Nobody can say I’m prejudiced against nancy boys, it’s just that my flesh creeps at the thought of them’ – and Terry agrees: ‘My flesh creeps too, sir.’

Terry and June ran for 65 episodes until 1987, and was a slightly reworked version of a previous series, Happy Ever After, which ran for six series from 1974.

BritBox said: ‘Programming that contains potentially sensitive language has carried appropriate warnings since our launch. We regularly re-examine our historical programming in order to review, re-label, provide context and ensure the right guidance is in place for viewers."

Published: 25 Apr 2024