Why is ITV's new 'woke' series Douglas Is Cancelled so controversial? (2024)

Steven Moffat’s new drama Douglas is Cancelled tackles a subject at the heart of the culture wars: cancel culture.

The four-part drama centres on national treasure news presenter Douglas (Hugh Bonneville) whose career is threatened when a sexist joke he made at a wedding emerges online.

The ITV comedy follows Douglas and his producer Toby (Ben Miles) attempt tocontain the scandal and control the narrative by having a public persona that is ‘balanced, boring and bland.’

However, Douglas is Cancelled, which also countsKaren Gillan as Douglas’ co-anchor Madeline among its cast, divided viewers on X after the first episode aired last night.

For some, the MeToo drama’s jokes failed to land, while the characters were ‘unrealistic’ and often veered into becoming ‘caricatures.’

As @leepg explained: ‘I had high hopes for #DouglasIsCancelled but it’s terrible. I’m not sure Stephen Moffat and primetime ITV is a sensible combination. The dialogue is unnatural, and it’s full of generational clichés and lame gags. I’m sorry but for me, Douglas Is Cancelled is… erm, cancelled.’

Echoing their sentiment, @MJPGallagher said: ‘The teenage character is so poorly written. It’s like every cliché all just thrown together. #DouglasIsCancelled.

@NicPerrins also added: ‘Gave up on #DouglasIsCancelled after less than two episodes. The script is infuriating and frustrating, the acting is childlike, overdone and caricature. Switched off at the ‘hand-holding’ scene in Madeleine’s office. Awful and ridiculous.’

However, others praised Douglas is Cancelled for its confronting portrayal of today’s fractured society. @ShireTax said when they saw #DouglasIsCancelled was trending on X they thought a Tory MP called Douglas had been embroiled in a scandal.

@zoeclairej was also taken aback by the show’s realism: ‘Just binge watched all of #DouglasIsCancelled. Suckerpunch ending is really something. And @karengillan is vulnerable and powerful in the same instant, exactly as so many women are. We balance on a knife edge. Extraordinary telly, a mix of nuance and comedy and tension.’

Other Douglas is Cancelled fans, meanwhile, suggested that the show’s detractors on X were expressing their distaste because the premise was too close to home.

@sharpeleven said: ‘People not enjoying #DouglasIsCancelled appear to be precisely the people it’s satirising.’

Karen previously told the Big Issue that Douglas is Cancelled ‘touches on really important themes’ including the female experience in the workplace and abuse of power.

She said: ‘My thoughts are that I think it’s an important story to tell. We need more of these stories are told, regardless of who’s telling the story.’

How to watch Douglas is Cancelled

The first episode of Douglas is Cancelled aired yesterday on ITV and ITVX at 9pm.

The following three episodes will air weekly on Thursdays at the same time.

The entire series is also available now to stream on ITVX if you can’t wait to watch the episodes on linear TV.

Douglas is Cancelled is streaming on ITVX.

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