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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
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.

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!

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.

ExtraOnions · 13/06/2026 18:09

May as well fast track this to the Daily mail news desk

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 13/06/2026 18:07

I mean, he’s literally called Punch.

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.

dnasurprise · 13/06/2026 18:05

Doesnt she win in the end and he is the baddy of the piece? Its been a while since i watched it.

IsadoraQuagmire · 13/06/2026 18:01

I love Punch and Judy😍