Peter Kay’s bid to ‘cheer up’ the nation during lockdown falls flat after breastfeeding gag during one-off Car Share sparks nearly 200 complaints to BBC
- The comedian, 46, issued a one-off audio special of his sitcom earlier this week
- 175 viewers complained to the BBC after taking offence to a breastfeeding joke
- Peter Kay recently cancelled his upcoming tour due to the coronavirus crisis
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
A breastfeeding gag in the latest episode of Peter Kay’s Car Share has sparked a wave of complaints to the BBC.
The comedian issued a one-off audio-only special on April 10 in an attempt to ‘cheer up’ the nation amid the coronavirus lockdown.
But not everyone saw the funny side of the 20-minute episode. A joke about breastfeeding saw 175 people complain to the BBC, according to the Huffington Post.
Above, Peter Kay and Sian Gibson pose as John and Kayleigh in the BBC comedy. Their one-off special was supposed to cheer the nation up amid lockdown measures,but close to 200 people complained to the BBC
Main characters John (played by Peter Kay) and Kayleigh (played by Sian Gibson) are having a discussion about children’s soft play areas when Kayleigh says she once saw a woman breastfeeding a three-year-old in public.
John asks: ‘How did you know he was three?’ before Kayleigh responds: ‘He had balloons.’
John then questions: ‘Is that what you call them? Breastfeeding at three?’
Kayleigh insists: ‘Swear down. Hanging off the tit with his teeth in Timbaland’s,’ with John going on to suggest there’s ‘a time and a place’.
Kayleigh responds: ‘They say breast is best, but you have got to draw the line somewhere.’
Peter Kay was recently forced to cancel his upcoming Dance for Life tour because of the Covid-19 outbreak
But some viewers felt the segment shamed mums who choose to breastfeed in public.
Digital Spy reported that angry viewers flocked to Twitter to express their outrage, with one user posting: ‘Usually a massive fan of Car Share but what was the thinking behind the breastfeeding attack in the latest audio programme for BBC iPlayer??’
Twitter user Andy Neat says his wife complained to the BBC
Chloe Roberts said it was ‘a shame’ the episode made the comments about breastfeeding
One Twitter user questioned ‘what was the thinking’ behind the gag
Another added: ‘I don’t do the whole ‘I’m offended’ thing but I 100% stand behind breastfeeding women on this one. Comments were outrageous on more than one level. Uneducated slurs for cheap laughs. BBC and all involved can expect a backlash from this.’
The British sitcom finished in 2018 after two series. It ended with two special episodes, one of which was almost completely improvised. At the time, some viewers took issue with a joke in the improvised episode which they felt was transphobic.
After a two-year hiatus from screens it was recently announced that Peter Kay would be returning as part of the BBC’s Big Night In broadcast.
The comedian was recently forced to cancel his upcoming Dance For Life Tour due to the Covid-19 outbreak. It was supposed to be his first tour since cancelling another in 2017 for unspecified family reasons.
The BBC was contacted by the MailOnline but declined to comment.