Peppa Pig has introduced its first same-sex couple onto the children's TV show. The animated programme, which has aired on Channel 5 since May 2004, is one of the most popular series aimed at children of pre-school age and follows the adventures, mishaps and friendships of titular character Peppa Pig.
In Monday morning's instalment, the show made history by introducing its first same-sex parents, Mummy Polar Bear and Doctor Polar Bear. During the episode, Peppa and her friends are drawing pictures of their families when Penny Polar Bear shows her picture of two female polar bears in dresses, the Mirror reports.
Penny says: "I’m Penny Polar Bear. I live with my mummy and my other mummy. One mummy is a doctor and one mummy cooks spaghetti. I love spaghetti."
Several people took to social media to welcome the LGBT characters. One person wrote on Twitter : "No ones talking abt for peppa pig now has two lesbian polar bears? I find it very sweet that peeps pig is lgbtq friendly."
Another user said: "Ok imma start by saying I have a 4 yr old cousin lol… THERE ARE LESBIAN MOMS IN PEPPA PIG????? adult shows struggle to do representation and peppa pig are just out here giving us lesbian polar bears???"
However, another person wrote: "Ffs leave our f*****g kids alone."
This comes after fellow children's TV show Thomas & Friends announced it is introducing its first autistic character. The new role of Bruno the Brake Car will be voiced by nine-year-old autistic actor Elliott Garcia from Reading, who the National Autistic Society helped cast.
Bruno is a "joyful, pun-making brake car" who is detail-orientated and enjoys schedules, routine and knows where all the tracks lead in the area. The character and storylines were developed by Mattel Television in collaboration with US autism organisations including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and Easterseals Southern California as well as autistic writers and spokespeople.
Autism is a developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world, as described by the National Autistic Society.
Tom Purser, head of guidance, volunteering and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: "It’s important that everyone sees autistic characters on our screens because there are 160,000 school-age autistic children in the UK and they want to see their stories told, but it’s also important that non-autistic children get insight and understanding into what it can be like to be autistic."
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Showbiz newsletter here .
