Peppa Pig’s brother George Pig receives life-changing diagnosis

The animated show will see George revealed as moderately deaf and fitted with a hearing aid

The world of Peppa Pig is set to address the topic of hearing loss in children, with George Pig receiving a life-changing diagnosis.

The hit children’s show tells the story of Peppa, who lives with Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig, her little brother George, and her baby sister Evie, who was born last May.

In an upcoming episode, George will be diagnosed as moderately deaf and fitted with a hearing aid, with Gladiator Jodie Ounsley, known to fans as Fury, taking on the role of his audiologist.

The 25-year-old athlete, who was born deaf and had a cochlear implant as a toddler, said she was “so grateful” to be part of the storyline.

Ounsley said that when her character revealed George’s hearing loss, she felt like she was speaking to her parents, and said: “I was so young, so I wasn’t aware of this experience, only through what my mum and dad have told me.

Ounsley will guest star in the episode about George’s hearing loss as his audiologist (Milkshake)

“I don’t think I realised how emotional it felt for them in that moment in time. It was quite bizarre to be in that position.

“But even more so, I think it’s why I put more heart into it, because it felt quite real. Hopefully that comes across in the episode, to the parents and kids watching it.”

Ounsley said her parents told her they had a “negative experience” when it was revealed she was deaf, and said: “When it’s the very start of your kid’s life, you really hang onto words. I think it’s the way you deliver things.

“I think for them it was very much, ‘your daughter has been found as deaf, here’s a leaflet, off you go’.

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“They could have said, ‘don’t worry, here are some resources. She still will have a very great life, she’s just going to have challenges’. That would have completely shifted their mindset.”

Jodie Ounsley said she was ‘so grateful’ to be part of the storyline (PA)

She told the Press Association she wanted to bring a “positive tone” to her role in the children’s show, and said: “When I was going through the scripts and things like that, I thought, ‘I am speaking to actual parents right now’.”

Ounsley said she was in disbelief when she was first offered the role, and said: “Once we got into the storyline, it just made it even more special to work on, because it was something I’ve really related to in so many aspects of my own life.

“It’s been incredible, and I’m so grateful to be part of it.”

She added: “Last year, had you mentioned this opportunity, I would have never even imagined, or believed, that I could do something like this.”

George and Peppa (Milkshake)

Peppa Pig first aired in 2004 on Channel 5 Milkshake and Nick Jr, and is now available in more than 180 territories, along with being broadcast in over 40 languages.

Co-created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker, from animation studio Astley Baker Davies, the series has inspired theme parks in the UK and elsewhere, as well as being featured on collectable Royal Mail stamps.

It was acquired by toy company Hasbro in 2019 as the part of them buying Entertainment One’s brands.

The upcoming storyline, which has been developed in partnership with the National Deaf Children’s Society, will air on Milkshake from March 9.