ITV has revealed that its controversial sitcom Piglets will be back on our screens after making its debut last year despite backlash about its ‘offensive’ title

(Image: ITV)

ITV has announced the return of its police sitcom Piglets, with one particular Traitors star set to join the cast. The comedy follows a group of police recruits as they begin training under the leadership of hopeless Superintendent Bob Weekes (Mark Heap) and ambitious Superintendent Julie Spry (Sarah Parish).

The series proved to be controversial ahead of its launch in July last year, with the Police Federation of England and Wales calling it “highly offensive” over its title. The group described the show’s title – based on the slang term for police which is ‘pig’ – as “insulting” and “inflammatory” at the time.

ITV sitcom Piglets will be back for a second series with Traitors star Madelyn Smedley(Image: ITV)

The show is set to return for a second series however after reaching 5.6 million views across its six episodes since launching. Sarah Parish and Mark Heap will reprise their roles alongside Colin McFarlane, Rebecca Humphries, Ricky Champ, Halema Hussain, Abdul Sessay, Jamie Bisping and Sukh Kaur Ojla.

Meanwhile, Traitors star Madelyn Smedlyn will be joining the cast as new trainee Danni alongside Game of Thrones star Kerr Logan – who also has a connection to the BBC show. While Madelyn competed on the first series of The Traitors, Kerr’s mum Diane Carson was one of the standout stars of the second series.

ITV’s Head of Comedy, Nana Hughes, said in a statement: “We are absolutely thrilled to bring back the attention-grabbing Piglets for a second series on ITV.”

While creator Victoria Pile added: “We’re delighted ITV have given us the chance to explore the latest antics of our talented would-be cops!”

Maddy was one of the first contestants on The Traitors (Image: BBC)

The news follows ITV’s latest cuts to its daytime staff, with over 220 employees reportedly set to lose their jobs out of 500 working on Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.

ITV announced this week that Good Morning Britain will be produced by ITN – ITV’s news provider – from next year with only 38 of the 113 staff being kept on.

Meanwhile, Lorraine will only air for 30 weeks of the year, with its running time being slashed in half from 60 minutes to half an hour. GMB will instead be extended by an extra hour during the weeks when Lorraine is not on air.

Insiders recently revealed to The Mirror that the cuts may lead to Lorraine Kelly quitting the show altogether, with the new schedule a “kick in the teeth” for the star.