Woke Channel 4 bosses hit iconic sitcom Father Ted with a trigger warning due to 'racial impersonations and language'

Channel 4 have hit the iconic sitcom Father Ted with a trigger warning, making it the latest show to fall victim to woke TV bosses.

The beloved series was given the disclaimer on the channel's streaming service All4, with the 1998 episode Are You Right There, Father Ted sparking fears it could upset viewers due to its language and racial impersonations, according to The Sun.

The episode features a sequence where Ted, played by Dermot Morgan appears to mock the Chinese by wearing a lampshade on his head.

Later in the episode, he appears to look like Adolf Hitler thanks to an unfortunately-placed mark and some dramatic hand gestures, and the mix-up leads Ted to spend the rest of the episode convincing the island he was not 'a bit of a racist'.

The hilarious plot point has led Channel 4 bosses to place a trigger warning on the episode, which reads: 'This episode was made in 1998 and contains language and racial impersonation which some viewers may find offensive.'

The series originally aired on Channel 4 for three series from 1995 to 1998.

Father Ted creator Graham Linehan previously defended the gag, saying: 'We wrote that episode partly to shame racist idiots.'  

Free Speech Union leader Toby Young also slammed the move to put a trigger warning on the episode.

He said: 'The language and behaviour was ‘offensive’ in 1998 - that was the point. 

'This episode was mocking the hyper-sensitivity of our age, something that was already apparent 27 years ago. 

'For Channel 4 to attach a trigger warning shows that nothing has changed. The scolds and finger-waggers are as humourless as ever.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Channel 4 for comment. 

It comes after fellow iconic sitcom Only Fools And Horses was slapped with a trigger warning some fans deemed 'excessively woke'. 

The BBC show is known for being feel-good TV, but has become the latest sitcom to be issued with disclaimers around offensive or outdated language, according to The Sun.

All seven series of the 80s hit starring David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst and the late Lennard Pearce are on streaming platform ITVX.

However, many of the episodes have been hit with trigger warnings for racial and 'outdated attitudes'. 

'The Russians are Coming' from series one was a fan favourite, but now features a disclaimer that reads: 'Contains some offensive racial language of the time.'

'The Yellow Peril' from the second series and 'Who's A Pretty Boy' from the third also feature a number of warnings now. 

Two episodes in the fourth installment also have a warning, while 'The Miracle of Peckham' from series five warns of language that 'may offend'.

The only two series which did not receive a disclaimer of some kind are the sixth and seventh.

Even the 1985 Christmas special includes a message that says: 'Contains dated attitudes and behaviours and racist language some viewers may find offensive.'

The repeats of Only Fools And Horses still air on digital channel U&Gold and have also been slapped with warnings. 

Fans have taken to social media to share their frustration at the new warnings.

One said: 'It takes a brave platform to showcase a comedy. People are desperate to be outraged and offended in this country Even UK Gold has to give a f***ing warning before showing an episode of Only Fools And Horses,'

'I'm watching series 1 of Only Fools & Horses and I wonder how much of this humour would get written today. If any, it's comedy genius but the woke brigade cancel it out nowadays,'

'You know you are living in an upside down offended by everything society when the TV is giving warnings before airing episodes of Only Fools And Horses,'

'This is what happens when everyone gets offended all the time, comedy programs are on their a**e, nowadays you watch only fools and horses and before it comes on they pretty much say these are old jokes that might offend a little whine bag with no soul,'

'There'll never be a new series of Only Fools And Horses because the 2024 generation will get offended,'

'Being offended by Only Fools And Horses, pathetic, get a grip,'

'Anyone offended by Only Fools And Horses has clearly had a sense of humour failure, and needs to lighten up.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for ITV and UKTV for comment.