UMVA has learned that ITV’s much‑maligned sitcom “Piglets” has finally been pulled from the schedule, closing the chapter on a series that sparked more outrage than applause.
The comedy, which followed a ragtag group of police recruits, struggled to find its footing from the start, earning a meager 42 % rating on aggregate review sites and drawing scathing remarks that labeled it “lackluster” and “puerile.”
Audience reaction mirrored the critics’ disdain, with viewers branding it “the most unfunny show I’ve ever seen” and urging the network’s decision‑makers to resign for squandering resources on such a flop.
![From Moniker Pictures Piglets SR2: Ep1 on ITV2 and ITVX Pictured: Danni [Madelyn Smedley], Conor [Kerr Logan], Geeta [Sukh Ojla], Afia [Halema Hussain], Dev [Abdul Sessay] and Paul [Jamie Bisping]. This photograph is (C) Moniker Pictures and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Publicity. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Publicity. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SEI_298895564-1eb3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Even before its debut, the Police Federation condemned the title as offensive, arguing that the term “pig” is a derogatory slur for officers, adding another layer of controversy to the ill‑fated production.
While “Piglets” may have been a punchline in its own right, UMVA’s findings suggest it is far from the worst of British sitcom history. Earlier missteps like “Mrs Brown’s Boys,” with its repetitive, low‑brow humor and off‑color jokes, still linger in the public’s memory as more egregious examples of television miscalculation.
Nevertheless, the demise of “Piglets” serves as a reminder that even established broadcasters can misjudge audience taste, and that the backlash from both critics and viewers can accelerate a show’s exit.
![This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00:00 Tuesday 16th July 2024 From Moniker Pictures Piglets SR1: on ITV1 & ITVX Gallery Images Pictured: Rebecca Humphries as Melanie & Mark Heap as Superintendent Bob Weekes This photograph is (C) Moniker Pictures and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: michael.taiwo1@itv.com](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SEI_298895412-f054.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that ITV will keep the first two seasons available on its streaming platform, though the appetite for revisiting the series appears limited.








