History of Peppa Pig in Timeline

Peppa Pig is a British animated preschool television series created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker, and produced by Hasbro Entertainment and Karrot Animation (formerly Astley Baker Davies). The show, which first aired on May 31, 2004, centers around Peppa, an anthropomorphic piglet, along with her family and animal friends. Broadcast in over 180 countries, Peppa Pig's ninth series started airing in summer 2025.

2017: Article in British Medical Journal questions health messages.

In 2017, The British Medical Journal published an article suggesting that Peppa Pig could create unrealistic expectations of primary care due to Doctor Brown Bear's depicted practices. The show's media company declined to comment on the article.

May 2018: Peppa Pig adult content blocked on TikTok in China.

In May 2018, TikTok (Douyin) blocked adult content featuring Peppa Pig in China. This action was a response to the shehuiren subculture using Peppa Pig as a criminal "mobster" icon in memes and tattoos.

February 2019: Peppa Pig Celebrates Chinese New Year released in China.

In February 2019, the 81-minute animation/live-action film Peppa Pig Celebrates Chinese New Year was released in China. The film made US$14 million in its first three days, opening on February 6, 2019.

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2019: "#PeppaEffect" trends as US children adopt British English from Peppa Pig.

Since 2019, it has been observed that children in the United States were acquiring British English pronunciation and vocabulary from Peppa Pig, leading to the trend "#PeppaEffect". Linguistics experts, however, found the conclusions to be "likely exaggerated".

November 2021: Boris Johnson digresses about Peppa Pig at CBI conference.

In November 2021, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his place in a speech at a Confederation of British Industry conference and went on a tangent about Peppa Pig, comparing the character's shape to a "Picasso-like hairdryer".