He told the Mail on Sunday: “I understand the good intentions of broadcasters who take care to warn of effects like flashing images, but I’m surprised something like Midsomer Murders warrants a warning. I do remember my character in Birds Of Prey hurling a plate of sausages to the floor – perhaps there should be a disclaimer, No sausages were hurt in this film.”
Dame Siân Phillips starred in the 2006 episode Vixen’s Run, which now features the warning: “Contains mild language and some violence.”
She said: “Is the word ‘murder’ in the title not enough to warn people there’s a chance they might encounter a spot of violence?”
A spokesman for ITVX said: “Programming that contains potentially sensitive or distressing themes, content or language has carried appropriate guidance since our launch. We regularly review our catalogue to ensure the right guidance is in place.”
It comes after streaming service BritBox warned viewers of BBC drama Call the Midwife that the show contained “surgical procedures and some scenes of distress”, while BBC sitcom Terry and June was given a trigger warning for “discriminatory” language.
Theatregoers have also been warned about potentially distressing content in Shakespeare’s plays, prompting criticism from leading actors such as Dame Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Sir Ian McKellen
Shakespeare’s Globe issued “content guidance” earlier this year for a production of Antony and Cleopatra, warning that it contained “depictions of suicide, scenes of violence and war, and misogynoir references”.
The theatre also attached a warning to a 2021 production of Romeo and Juliet over its “depictions of suicide, moments of violence and references to drug use”, plus gunshot sound effects and the use of fake blood. Contact details for the Samaritans were attached.