A cheese company has been told to get a grip after it was accused of censoring the Cerne Giant on its packaging. For the last 15 years, the Oxford Cheese Company has featured an uncensored image of the 180ft naked chalk figure on its Cerne Abbas Man vintage cheddar.
But for most of those years, the landmark's prominent tumescent manhood was on full display in all its glory - until now. Vic Irvine, the head brewer at Cerne Abbas Brewery in the village near Dorchester, says he was left horrified by the “castration” and has since called on the cheese firm to revert back to their old label's design.
The firm at the centre of the furore has meanwhile been left baffled by the recent controversy. Vic, speaking to DorsetLive, said: “It was a few days ago and someone showed me the cheese wrapper and it had the Cerne Abbas giant on, but not his penis. If you are going to use the Cerne Abbas Giant to sell some cheese, use the giant, and don’t censor his c****."
READ MORE: Bristol's cheese restaurant to close after eight months due to staffing issues
He added: “The cheese company have to do one of two things - they either have to put the penis on the giant or remove the giant from the cheese. It’s not that hard. I’m not sure what the National Trust have to say about it but I’d be worried about their stance.”
The 180ft ancient chalk figure lives on the rolling hills of rural Dorset and is said to be about 1,000 years old. Known for its famous giant phallus, the club-brandishing giant has remained a mystery for generations, with many speculating on the meaning behind the giant.
Locally beloved by villagers, Vic quipped there had been some “stiff opposition” against the censored branding. The uncensored giant is meanwhile central to its own branding and is a mark of the local pride towards the chalk figure.
“The Oxford Cheese Company are a small business and we wish them all the very best in these uncertain trading times”, Vic said. “I was in the New Yorker magazine and I have been quoted as saying ‘It is an erect penis and an erect penis is an erect penis’. You can’t take that away from him.”
While the light-hearted debate rumbles on, Vic confirmed he will work with local cheese makers to create his own cheese range to be on shelves at Christmas. Vic reassures customers the Cerne Giant will be featured in all its glory.
While Vic is best known for being head brewer at Cerne Abbas Brewery and has made several TV and radio appearances, he is also close friends with popstar Chesney Hawkes who previously hosted a special gig to raise money for Vic and his family . Vic is currently battling against Stage 4 EGFR-positive lung cancer.
The Oxford Cheese Company’s founder Robert Pouget told the BBC it had used the full image of the giant for 15 years, and was forced to make the change after a complaint from a supplier. The new packaging to give the Cerne Giant trousers was seen as a compromise.
He said: "A member of their staff objected to his prominent feature and said it was sexist. The supermarket said please give him trousers."
Yet this is not the only time the Cerne Giant has been forced to cover its modesty. The Cerne Abbas Brewery Ale at Strangers' Bar at Westminster saw its logo of the giant obscured with a paper leaf on the beer tap in 2016.
READ NEXT:
