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ITV's Jekyll and Hyde faces investigation after more than 800 complaints ITV's Jekyll and Hyde faces investigation after more than 800 complaints
(about 5 hours later)
ITV’s Jekyll and Hyde is facing an investigation after the teatime show attracted hundreds of complaints over violent scenes. ITV is facing an investigation from the broadcast watchdog after the channel’s big-budget teatime drama Jekyll and Hyde attracted hundreds of complaints over violent scenes and disturbing imagery.
Broadcast watchdog Ofcom said it had received a total of 459 complaints about the show, which aired at 6:30pm on Sunday and is scheduled for the 7pm slot from this weekend. Including complaints made to ITV, the total is now more than 800. Regulator Ofcom said it had received a total of 459 complaints about the show, the majority of which said it was too scary for broadcast at 6.30pm on Sunday, two and a half hours before the 9pm watershed. Including complaints made to ITV, the total is now more than 800.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Ofcom has carefully assessed a number of complaints about Jekyll and Hyde on ITV. We are opening an investigation into whether the programme complied with our rules on appropriate scheduling and violent content before the watershed.”An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Ofcom has carefully assessed a number of complaints about Jekyll and Hyde on ITV. We are opening an investigation into whether the programme complied with our rules on appropriate scheduling and violent content before the watershed.”
The investigation will focus on rules which state broadcasters must take care to ensure children are not exposed to unsuitable material, and that depictions of violence are limited before the watershed when children may be watching.
Jekyll and Hyde featured potentially disturbing images from the start, with one character bludgeoned to death within the first minute, and further violent deaths including someone being set on fire and another being shot in the stomach.
Lead actor Tom Bateman, who plays Dr Jekyll, is at one point seen putting his foot against a child’s throat, and a half-man, half-dog monster is shot by members of a shadowy organisation led by a character played by Richard E. Grant.
A source close to the productions said the team behind the show had carefully considered the kind of programming aimed at children that is regularly broadcast before the watershed, such as the Harry Potter films, and had been “surprised” by the reaction.
“The sad thing is, it got really, really good reviews,” said the source. “When you are making a show you just want people to love it. Lots of people have said they loved it including those with children. You don’t make shows to upset people.”
Jekyll and Hyde writer Charlie Higson has defended the show on Twitter, saying its critics need to “grow up”. Before the show was broadcast, Higson told the Guardian that producers had avoided “squirting blood, torn-off limbs” but that it was “good to scare children”.
However, some reviewers have disagreed, with the Scotsman saying broadcasting the show at “half-past six seems a tad inappropriate” and the Daily Mail arguing the time slot was “so utterly inappropriate and callous that it is impossible to give Jekyll And Hyde any star rating at all”.
Related: ITV refuses to reschedule Jekyll and Hyde despite more than 500 complaintsRelated: ITV refuses to reschedule Jekyll and Hyde despite more than 500 complaints
The investigation will focus on rules saying broadcasters must take care to ensure children are not exposed to unsuitable material, and that depictions of violence are limited before the watershed when children may be watching. Ofcom has no power to force broadcasters to change programming schedules, but is able to impose significant sanctions if broadcasters are found to be in breach of the rules. US-owned network Discovery was last year fined £100,000 for daytime broadcasts of a show about serial killers which included reconstructions and descriptions of torture, mutilation and murder.
Jekyll and Hyde featured a number of violent scenes, including one character being bludgeoned to death and another dying after being set on fire. However, the regulator normally deals with less serious incidents by reminding broadcasters of its rules and issuing written guidance, with financial penalties saved for repeated or reckless offenders.
Ofcom has no power to force broadcasters to change programming, but is able to impose significant sanctions. US-owned network Discovery was last year fined £100,000 for broadcasting a show about serial killers. It aims to complete investigations within 50 working days, but most are resolved more quickly.
ITV, which received around 380 complaints following the broadcast, has said it has no plans to move Jekyll and Hyde’s broadcast time. ITV, which received around 380 complaints following the broadcast, has said it has no plans to move Jekyll and Hyde’s transmission time. The remaining episodes of the 10-part series, which are scheduled for a 7pm time slot, are expected to feature more monsters and to get “sillier”.
An ITV spokesperson highlighted the warning it had shown before the start of Jekyll and Hyde, which said it included “violence and scenes that younger children may find scary”.An ITV spokesperson highlighted the warning it had shown before the start of Jekyll and Hyde, which said it included “violence and scenes that younger children may find scary”.
The spokesperson said: “ITV always considers carefully the content of its programming, and of course suitability for younger audiences is something we care about and give a great deal of thought to, hence our very specific announcement highlighting the fact that younger viewers may find Jekyll and Hyde scary.”The spokesperson said: “ITV always considers carefully the content of its programming, and of course suitability for younger audiences is something we care about and give a great deal of thought to, hence our very specific announcement highlighting the fact that younger viewers may find Jekyll and Hyde scary.”