Midsomer Murders has now joined countless other shows which have been stamped with a trigger warning ahead of each episode.
The long-running ITV detective series is in its 27th year but it seems bosses have recently felt the need to warn viewers about potentially upsetting scenes, in a move which has baffled presenter Lorraine Kelly.
As the drama, which has faced some concerns it could be axed, was discussed by ITV host Kelly, 64, it became clear she didn’t support the newly-added warnings.
“You know how people get trigger warnings, I know sometimes people have to, of course I understand that… but Midsomer Murders, really, really?” she asked, exasperated.
The Scottish presenter continued: “We know [there will be distressing scenes], it’s called Midsomer Murders.
“We know there will be a murder or even more than one! Saying there might be violence in Midsomer Murders is like saying today, watching Wimbledon, there may be bouncing balls!”
Kelly blasted the concept of a warning ahead of Midsomer Murders
ITV
It comes not long after acting legend Judi Dench ripped apart trigger warnings on certain shows. Speaking to Radio Times, she admitted she “can see why they exist” before slamming why people choose to go to a theatre performance if they’re “sensitive”.
“But if you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked,” she continued.
“Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?”
Dench, 89, joined many other famous faces who have blasted the concept, with Clarkson’s Farm star Jeremy Clarkson blasting the notion when he wrote in The Times: “Today, we have warnings before every show about all of the horrors that lie ahead.
The programme has been on air for 27 years
ITV
“We’re told that we are going to see nudity and smoking, and that there may be drug ‘misuse’… We had none of that before Bouquet of Barbed Wire.
“Today we are told on an hourly basis that our children are subjected to far too much online titillation.
“But back in the day, if you went into a newsagent’s or a petrol station to buy a Sherbet Fountain and some Spangles, one whole wall would invariably be plastered with a seemingly endless selection of girlie magazines.”
Midsomer Murders may be entering its third decade on screens, but recently it’s seen an uptick in online backlash.
The programme now has a trigger warning attached to each epissode
ITV
The programme returned earlier this year with series 23, but the opening episode left many complaining the show had become “far-fetched”.
Despite this, a 24th series has already been filmed, with another in the pipeline, although details of series 25 haven’t yet been shared.