ITV’s Jekyll & Hyde ‘too scary’ for family viewing

The first episode of the show, which follows the story of Jekyll’s grandson, Dr Robert Jekyll, who struggles to suppress a monster within himself, aired on Sunday.

But its scenes involving murder and violence led to 212 complaints to Ofcom.

ITV said that 280 people have complained to the ITV Viewer Services so far.

The show stars Richard E Grant, Tom Bateman and Natalie Gumede and will run for ten episodes.

A spokesman for the broadcast regulator said: “We will assess these complaints before deciding whether to investigate or not.” The first episode featured a half-human half-dog creature called a Harbinger, the physical transformation of saintly Jekyll into evil Hyde, and the brutal murder of Robert’s foster parents in Ceylon. It also showed a violent bar fight and a punch-up in an alleyway.

One Twitter user, @grannie--bb, asked: “ITV why are you showing Jekyll and Hyde pre watershed? Too violent and scary when young children still up.”

An ITV spokesman said: “ITV issued a warning before the transmission of Jekyll & Hyde advising parents that it included some violence and scenes that younger children may find scary.”