BBC’s Terry and June given trigger warning

The BBC sitcom Terry and June has been given a trigger warning for “discriminatory” language.

The suburban comedy, starring Terry Scott and Dame June Whitfield, has been added to Britbox, the BBC and ITV’s joint streaming service.

Viewers are warned before watching that the programme “contains discriminatory language of the period”.

Terry and June ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1987, and has been reviewed along with other historical programming.

A spokesman for ITV said: “We review and refresh our programme catalogue on an ongoing basis. Programming on the service 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 who are choosing to watch on demand.”

The opening episode of Terry and June centres on the couple moving into their home in Purley, where an immovable for sale sign creates the impression that the property is still on the market.

An Indian man comes to buy the house but is rebuffed by Terry, who inadvertently gives the impression that he is racist.

The Indian character asks if the house is not for sale “because of my colour”, to which Terry answers: “Good heavens no, some of my best friends are awfully coloured.”

He insists on a lack of prejudice, but stops himself from saying a slur when returning to the house to tell June that “some … Indian chap out there accused me of bigotry”.

The Indian character is later revealed to be a doctor who treats Terry for injuries suffered while trying to take down the troublesome sign.

Britbox has added other trigger warnings in the past, including for Wolf Hall, Poirot, starring David Suchet, and Downton Abbey.