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Original poster

Punch and Judy - WTF?

58 replies

AnnaQuayRules · 13/06/2026 18:00

I've just been to a village fete. Lovely traditional event with a Punch and Judy show. I remember P&J from my childhood 50 years ago, and know it involved domestic violence played for laughs, but assumed the story had been updated for modern times.

Apparently not. Punch is still beating up Judy, and all the children were laughing along with it.

I feel it's completely inappropriate in this day and age, and sending very dodgy messages about domestic abuse. However someone I was chatting to thought I was being ridiculously "woke" about it.

So
YABU - it's just a traditional kids shoe and it's fine because Mr P gets arrested
YANBU - it's ridiculous it's still using this story line

OP posts:
AnonymityAnonymity · 13/06/2026 18:57

I'm really surprised Punch and Judy Shows are still a thing.

I agree with you OP laughing at violent behaviour towards women is just not appropriate.

The violence women experience in real life every day from men, often in domestic situations, is very real and we shouldn't be teaching children this is in anwway something to laugh at.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/06/2026 18:46

Yoghurti · 13/06/2026 18:10

I agree. It’s also extremely heteronormative. They could at the very least make the crocodile gay or trans. There are also no minority ethnic characters. It’s just wrong on every level and should be cancelled.

🤣🤣🤣

Rhaidimiddim · 13/06/2026 18:45

Tom and Jerry?

ExpectMore · 13/06/2026 18:43

Oliveoy · 13/06/2026 18:41

How hard did you have to try to miss the obvious humour in that reply 🤣

Show quote history

Very good… I raise my hat

LlynTegid · 13/06/2026 18:42

I'm with those who think the traditional Punch and Judy story is one that should be consigned to history. I am sure you could use the puppets and other characters to tell an interesting children's story.

Oliveoy · 13/06/2026 18:41

ExpectMore · 13/06/2026 18:36

WTF. It’s a kids puppet show…. How hard did you have to try to be offended at this one?

Show quote history

How hard did you have to try to miss the obvious humour in that reply 🤣

FourCheese · 13/06/2026 18:41

SleepingStandingUp · 13/06/2026 18:21

I don't know any puppet show where the woman abused the man? what are you and your kids watching?

Show quote history

Eh? What are you on about?

I said IF Judy punched punch, nobody would bat an eyelid. Perhaps read before posting snarky replies.

Justanopinionnothingmore · 13/06/2026 18:39

bumptybum · 13/06/2026 18:19

But it’s not. It’s communicating a narrative.

How anyone still says things like ‘it’s just a puppet’ astounds me.

it’s just a TV show
it’s just a movie
It’s just a music video

things projecting domestic violence or grape or any other heinous crime in a comedic, acceptable and light heated way to children thus continuing the down playing and normalisation of the behaviours are WRONG

I’ve been with Gen Z and Gen Alpha people when some 1970s type sitcom has been on like ‘love they neighbour’ and they’ve been absolutely horrified. I can’t believe that that level of racism was so casually used an entertainment and the public just laughed It’s embarrassing Anybody would find any way to justify these old things that demonstrate behaviours that just not okay

Edited
Show quote history

That's about recognising it was a thing of it's time and not for now? That show was a product of it's time and no I don't agree with it but it happened and you can't erase it. It's history.

Punch and Judy isn't real. There are many unpleasant things in the real world. Books, films and stories reflect this. Are we going to santitize everything as we go across?

My big belief is like when there is comedy out there you don't like or a book you hate or something you disagree with. Don't like it? That's fine don't watch it or read it. Scroll on by whatever. But that doesn't mean other people can't appreciate it.

It's like a dark novel. Can I not enjoy a ficticious book about a murder where the crime is solved? Is that also encouraging or do I have critical thinking skills to realise it's just a book?

Like trying to say rap influences crime. No people influence crime. They will do it anyway.

ExpectMore · 13/06/2026 18:39

Monty36 · 13/06/2026 18:22

But Mr Policeman comes along to arrest / punish Mr Punch. Because what he has done is wrong…..

Don’t let the facts get in the way of someone being offended….!

ExpectMore · 13/06/2026 18:36

Yoghurti · 13/06/2026 18:10

I agree. It’s also extremely heteronormative. They could at the very least make the crocodile gay or trans. There are also no minority ethnic characters. It’s just wrong on every level and should be cancelled.

WTF. It’s a kids puppet show…. How hard did you have to try to be offended at this one?

faithfultoGeorgeMichael · 13/06/2026 18:32

I hate it, I found it so creepy and weird when I was little and still feel the same. The weird high pitched voices and it's consistently nasty. Its a posh thing I think, all DHs posh cousins love it. I love a panto thou and they are obviously just as bad 😂

LilacDrift · 13/06/2026 18:32

FFS. 'That's the way to do it'

Fillies4DeclanRice · 13/06/2026 18:29

I was at one today as well (Shepperton?) - it was lovely to see something traditional that everyone was really enjoying.

SleepingStandingUp · 13/06/2026 18:28

LumenLights · 13/06/2026 18:15

This has made me realise I can’t remember a single plot point of Punch and Judy.

I thought it was just a couple of hand puppets messing around.

from wiki

Punch and Judy - WTF?
Kbcdtyijgd · 13/06/2026 18:27

Ffs 🤦🏼‍♀️

Monty36 · 13/06/2026 18:24

I loved it. Photo of me looking seriously at it. As someone else said the crocodile and sausages were bizarre. But fun !

Original poster
AnnaQuayRules · 13/06/2026 18:24

SkippitySkoppity · 13/06/2026 18:22

I mean it's basically been the same show on village greens since the 17th century, not sure why you think it would have suddenly been updated in the last 50 years.

Because for most of the last 400 years it's never been questioned that a man has the right to hit his wife. We now, thank goodness, don't see it as acceptable behaviour

OP posts:
Jamesblonde2 · 13/06/2026 18:23

I made no association as a child, or adult, to DV happening in front of me via puppets. YABU OP. P&J is great.

Monty36 · 13/06/2026 18:22

But Mr Policeman comes along to arrest / punish Mr Punch. Because what he has done is wrong…..

SkippitySkoppity · 13/06/2026 18:22

I mean it's basically been the same show on village greens since the 17th century, not sure why you think it would have suddenly been updated in the last 50 years.

itsgettingweird · 13/06/2026 18:21

LumenLights · 13/06/2026 18:15

This has made me realise I can’t remember a single plot point of Punch and Judy.

I thought it was just a couple of hand puppets messing around.

Yes with a crocodile and some sausages thrown in - although for the life of me I can’t remember why 🤷‍♀️🤣

SleepingStandingUp · 13/06/2026 18:21

FourCheese · 13/06/2026 18:06

It’s puppets hitting each other, slapstick comedy. Would you be posting if Judy was punching Punch? Male characters being on the receiving end of violence doesn’t bat an eyelid yet many men suffer DV.

Over the top? Yes, that’s right. They're just puppets. They're so odd-looking they barely register as male or female anyway.

Edited

I don't know any puppet show where the woman abused the man? what are you and your kids watching?

bumptybum · 13/06/2026 18:19

Justanopinionnothingmore · 13/06/2026 18:13

It's a goddamn puppet show. Do we have make everything bloody pc, in the words of Brian Conley...

It's only a puppet!

But it’s not. It’s communicating a narrative.

How anyone still says things like ‘it’s just a puppet’ astounds me.

it’s just a TV show
it’s just a movie
It’s just a music video

things projecting domestic violence or grape or any other heinous crime in a comedic, acceptable and light heated way to children thus continuing the down playing and normalisation of the behaviours are WRONG

I’ve been with Gen Z and Gen Alpha people when some 1970s type sitcom has been on like ‘love they neighbour’ and they’ve been absolutely horrified. I can’t believe that that level of racism was so casually used an entertainment and the public just laughed It’s embarrassing Anybody would find any way to justify these old things that demonstrate behaviours that just not okay

SleepingStandingUp · 13/06/2026 18:19

eldest has hated punch and just since he was a toddler cos the bad man hurts the lady (he caught a small bit on holiday). littlest ones have never seen it, I don't get what's funny.

you'd think in this day and age, there would be an updated version where we don't laugh at a wife beater cos she deserves it

Tel12 · 13/06/2026 18:17

Yoghurti · 13/06/2026 18:10

I agree. It’s also extremely heteronormative. They could at the very least make the crocodile gay or trans. There are also no minority ethnic characters. It’s just wrong on every level and should be cancelled.

Heteronormative! Never heard that before, but somehow it's self explanatory!