Has this savagely violent show at 6.30pm killed off the TV watershed?
Parents’ horror as ITV screens violent and gory Jekyll and Hyde at 6.30 in the evening
SHOCKED parents protested at the horrific scenes shown in ITV’s latest big-budget drama last night after the programme went out at 6.30pm.
The first episode of Jekyll and Hyde was broadcast hours before the 9pm watershed, at a time when many children were likely to be watching.
In defiance of the broadcasting rules designed to protect younger viewers, the programme featured disturbing monsters, torture and murder – including one scene where a small girl was hit by a truck and had her neck stamped on.
Viewers took to social media to voice their dismay at such graphic images being shown so early in the evening.
The new ten-part series, which stars Tom Bateman and Richard E Grant, is loosely based on the short story The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, published in 1886 by Robert Louis Stevenson.
In the adaptation, the action has been updated to 1930s London and sees Dr Jekyll’s grandson trying to find out the truth about his past.
Within five minutes, a man is beaten to death in the street, and a girl run over only for the show’s ‘hero’ to stamp on her neck.
After last night’s 46-minute episode, one mother posted: ‘Very disappointed ITV thought it was ok to show this programme before 9pm. Not a happy parent.’
A second viewer said: ‘ Erm. #JekyllandHyde seems very good but a 6.30pm time slot? REALLY? I’m terrified! Totally unsuitable, the watershed exists for a reason.’
Another social media user added: ‘I see ITV is pushing the boundaries of pre-watershed TV with this new series if the opening is anything to be judged by.’
This week Charlie Higson, the writer of the drama, shocked many when asked what he thought about parents who may be worried about the content of his new show.
He explained: ‘Kids love horror, they love gore and death and violence and monsters and all that stuff.
‘Some of the parents might get a little upset and some of the smaller kids but you know, **** them.’
The father-of-three, 57, later tried to rein in his views and claimed that because children are now exposed to so much graphic content on the internet, TV has to become more extreme to keep up.
He also said his initial vision was toned down by ITV bosses at both the script and filming stage.
However, ITV could still be questioned by Ofcom over its decision to broadcast the show in the prewatershed slot.
The regulator investigates broadcasters if it considers that a programme may have breached its Broadcasting Code, which says that violent scenes ‘must not be broadcast before the watershed... unless there is editorial justifica- tion’. The watchdog can fine broadcasters millions of pounds if they are found to have breached the code.
An ITV spokesman said: ‘ ITV issued a warning before the transmission of Jekyll and Hyde advising parents that it included some violence and scenes that younger children may find scary.’
Ofcom last night did not issue an immediate comment.