ITV has reportedly axed its divisive police comedy Piglets after two seasons. The show, from the team behind the surreal Channel 4 comedy Green Wing, premiered on ITV2 in 2024 and followed a group of new police officers learning on the job.
The show returned for a second season in January, with Mark Heap and Sarah Parish again starring as the no-nonsense higher-ups at a police training college. However, the show courted controversy from the start, particularly over its name, and ITV has now confirmed there are currently 'no plans' for a third season.
A broadcaster spokesperson told Metro: 'We would like to thank all the cast and crew for their hard work in bringing these unforgettable characters and stories alive on screen. Viewers can watch the adventures from series one and two by streaming all episodes on ITVX.'
Poor Ratings and Mixed Reception
A source told The Sun that there had been 'hope' for Piglets when it debuted two years ago, but the second series reportedly proved less successful. 'There was great hope for Piglets when it was first released and even though the response to the debut series was mixed, bosses believed it deserved a follow-up. But unfortunately, the second series didn't set the world alight – which made it even harder for ITV to give it another chance,' the source said.
Piglets currently holds a 43% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and was beset with criticism from viewers, who labelled it an all-time bad sitcom.
Controversy Over Title
Before the show even aired, the Police Federation complained that the title was 'disgusting' and 'highly offensive', given that 'pig' is a derogatory term for police officers. Tiffany Lynch, Acting National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said at the time: 'It is a disgusting choice of language to use for the title of a TV programme. I find it incredulous that this has passed through checks and balances at an organisation made up of people who at any time have or may need the support and assistance of the police.'
She added: 'Our colleagues are working hard and keeping people safe under relentless negative pressure at the moment, insulting our new in-service officers is unhelpful. The name of this show is also inflammatory against a landscape of rising threats and violence against officers. We should not be put at further risk for viewing numbers, our officers deserve respect not humiliation for the job they are undertaking.'
Mukund Krishna, CEO of the Police Federation of England and Wales, also said the group planned to write to Ofcom and ITV. The watchdog later reported it had received 106 complaints for Piglets.
Piglets is available to watch on ITVX.
