𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦: 3 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴🕒
Whether it be Good Morning Britain or the BBC, one name was on the lips of the media for a few weeks: George Pig!
And that was because as part of the Peppa Pig’s latest storyline, her little brother George has moderate hearing loss in one ear and therefore needs a hearing aid.
The producers first contacted the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) in 2023 to better understand the portrayal of deafness, including the different types of hearing loss and the appropriate support.
That way, they could ensure the story accurately reflected the lived experience of parents and deaf or hearing loss children.
We spoke to Colin Brook, Media Relations Officer at the National Children’s Deaf Society, to better understand the role that the NDCS plays.
“We’re continuing to offer guidance around deaf awareness and how to share George’s deaf journey in an effective and accurate way,” said Colin.
“George will have many experiences as a deaf child — and his family will too — that are shaped by his level of deafness.
“We know that, with the right support in place, a deaf child can achieve just as much as their hearing siblings. That’s why we’re working closely with the scriptwriting teams to ensure this support is meaningfully reflected in the storyline as it progresses.”
Colin explained why it’s “vital” for deaf children to see their experiences reflected authentically on-screen.
He continued: “It makes them feel less isolated and more included. Introducing this storyline in a series like Peppa Pig is an important step toward creating a world where anything is possible for deaf children. A world where differences are celebrated and every deaf child feels seen, valued and included.
“We also hope the storyline will spark children’s curiosity so that they’ll want to learn more. When children understand deafness better, they’re more likely to be patient, inclusive and supportive of their deaf friends.”
And just why is it so important to provide positive representations of deafness?
“There are around 54,000 deaf children across the UK, yet we don’t often see their stories told in the media,” added Colin.
“A lot of parents tell us that deaf representation is important to them and that it really helps their deaf child feel ‘seen’.
“Hasbro conducted a poll to accompany the storyline and found that nearly all (98%) parents of deaf children surveyed said that positive representation of deafness in the media is important. And we agree.
“When deaf children see people like them on TV or in the media it helps them develop a stronger sense of self, normalises deafness and helps them feel less isolated.”
Deafness isn’t the only representation on show. British Sign Language (BSL) users can enjoy Peppa Pig tales on a dedicated YouTube channel.
Colin said: “It’s important that children’s media is inclusive and accessible for all deaf children, no matter their preferred method of communication. Having Peppa Pig available in BSL is a one way of making sure deaf children who use BSL feel included in the conversation.”
Head of VoiceBox, Sophie Muller, commented: “We absolutely love this story.
“It’s great work from the team at Hasbro working with the NDCS to try and better understand deafness portrayal and hearing loss, so the representation was accurate.
“From my perspective, they have built it in from the very start. Understanding and then implementation. This always brings much better results than adding accessibility in as a late addition.
“When it’s an afterthought, often there isn’t the time to fully understand the space. Peppa Pig producers have led by example with a considered decision, not a rushed one.
“Colin explained that the Peppa Pig production team also worked closely with Camilla Arnold, a renowned deaf executive producer and script consultant, on the storyline. By working with someone who is directly impacted by the storyline, they get insight and an understanding of topic first-hand. Someone who isn’t deaf simply hasn’t had that lived experience, so they can’t provide that.
“Both of these best practices we would recommend when applying accessibility. Understand the space and work with people who you are trying to target and resonate with.”
George has been portrayed as having moderate hearing loss in one ear and wears a hearing aid. This helps highlight that hearing loss exists on a spectrum and that not all deaf children have the same experiences or support needs.