CHANNEL 4’s controversial sitcom about the Irish Famine saw a small group of placard-bearing protestors take to the streets on Saturday.
Activists, as well as a small number of people who came out to support the contentious show, made their way to Channel 4 headquarters on London’s Horseferry Road, armed with banners, speeches and strong opinions to voice their opinions for and against the proposed programme.
Still in the development process, Hungry is one of Channel 4’s latest projects.
The broadcaster gave Dublin-based Hugh Travers the green light to put together a script for the new sitcom, with the young up-and-coming writer choosing the Famine as his central topic.
The protest against the airing of the programme was organised by Campaign for the Rights and Actions of Irish Communities (CRAIC) and was left open to anyone in Britain with a similar stance to attend.
Since news of the series broke, there has been massive backlash against Channel 4.
A change.org petition has been signed online by almost 40,000 people, calling for the channel to cut all ties with the script.
But only about 30 people turned out on Saturday – among them Austin Harney, from CRAIC, who was also one of the chief organisers.
“In British society, they’re not really educated on the facts of the Irish Famine,” he said. “Irish history is a very minor role here in Britain but we need to make people understand the persecution and suffering that Irish people endured.”
Many of the protestors are outraged by the nature of the show and are seeking an educational drama in its place.
“We are ambassadors of Ireland to Britain and that’s where we have to improve British and Irish relations by educating people on what really happened between Britain and Ireland,” said Mr Harney, a second-generation Irishman with connections in Carlow, Galway and Limerick.
A counter protest also took place, in which the activists encouraged freedom of speech as well as the right to produce satire.
Father Ted writer Graham Linehan also made his feelings clear on the day, telling his Twitter followers: “I apologise on behalf of sensible Irish people for the idiots protesting the famine sitcom outside C4 today. Down with that sort of thing.”
The divisive issue has split opinions down the middle, despite only being in the writing stage.
When contacted by The Irish Post, a Channel 4 representative said: “We have commissioned a script set in 19th century Ireland by Dublin-based writer Hugh Travers and Irish-based production company Deadpan Pictures - however this in the development process and is not currently planned to air.”
We spoke to some of those who turned out for Saturday’s protest, here’s what they had to say…
Phien O’Leachigan
Kent/Mullingar
“I equate this to a sitcom being written in an office in the Twin Towers just after the attack – where’s the humour? There isn’t any humour.”
Shelagh O’Connor
Stanford Hill/Kerry
“It’s still very raw for people and I think it’s sad that it should be regarded as fodder for a sitcom. We should have a proper history of that period.”
Laura Breadon
Croydon/grandfather from Ireland
“They haven’t consulted with people to find out what their views are on what could be deeply offensive, so they need to tread very carefully and be sensitive.”
Mary Neville
London/Parents from Louth and Kerry
“I can’t find any humour in people suffering and children dying and coffin ships and it also worries me that this is still going on in the world today, people are suffering and dying from starvation and disease.”
Jim Curran
Pimlico/Longford
“I might not agree with many aspects of it but I believe they have the right to do it and I think that it is an opportunity for Irish historians to focus attention on the Famine.”
See More: Channel 4 Comedy, Irish Famine Protest
