ITV’s Grace sparks Ofcom complaints about ‘sad’ watershed sexual violence scenes

Before ITV aired the episode, viewers were warned that there would be scenes about Grace that some might feel sad about.

Loading video

Video not available

The video will automatically play soon8Cancel

Start playing

Grace: ITV releases trailer for second series

New ITV drama Grace has been hit with 58 complaints by Ofcom after it aired “harrowing” scenes depicting sexual violence before watershed.

Before ITV aired the episode, viewers were warned that there would be scenes where some people might feel sad.

Those who watched the episode, however, remained shocked and complained to the television watchdog about the new series, which stars John Simm.

The 51-year-old plays DS series protagonist Roy Grace on the show and alongside Richie Campbell and Rakie Ayola of Top Boy.

Based on the best-selling novel by Peter James, the series opens over the weekend and follows DS Grace and DS partner Glenn Branson (Campbell) as they investigate the grisly murder of a former schoolteacher.

Although it aired at 8 p.m., the dark scenes opening the episode showed footage of a man in a black rubber jacket hanging himself from a drug addiction.

Fans took to Twitter in shock, with one saying: “8pm and they showed a man hanged, I always thought such things were shown after 9pm?”

While another commented: “Ummmm… not sure Grace fits the @ITV watershed fare. Fetish, drugs.

“Oh yeah, and a body hanged. Sex game glitched? At 8 p.m. Sunday?!”

A third agreed, writing: “Yes, it did seem a bit full by 9pm. Luckily the daughter went to bed because she didn’t want her mother to see her.”

Others, however, defended the film, with one commenting: “For everyone who groans at the content of #Grace, ITV issued a warning before it even started.

“Only use the red button if you’re too scared.”

Another wrote: “#Grace. WARNING!!! Don’t whine about the content! You get worse on previous news channels from Ukraine etc.”

* Thank goodness it airs at 8pm every Sunday on ITV