The Paedogeddon Special is the third most complained-about episode of television ever (first and second are the Jerry Springer Opera and Big Brother 2000).
The series was made in 1996, but because of its hugely controversial nature, airing was delayed by Channel 4 until early 1997, while they undertook a long editing process and considered which parts they could get away with broadcasting.
An unaired pilot episode of this show, called "Torque TV" exists, though for some reason it was never included on the Brass Eye DVD. It was made in 1995 by Christopher Morris, and the rest of the crew. Most of the material in "Torque TV" was re-used for the Animals episode of this series, but there are several scenes that are either unique to "Torque TV", or were edited down for inclusion in the series. Of note is an entirely excised interview between David Jatt (Morris) and Sir Peregrine Worsthorne, ex-Editor of The Sunday Telegraph talking about domestic hippos; an extended WOFDCAP sequence, in which the animal rights activists have a telephone conversation with Martin Amis about the plight of Karla the elephant; a thrilling look at how animals are gaining respect, including the heartwarming tale of a mouse that saved a drowning tramp; an extended sequence in which Dr. Jonathan Kwattes (Ian Gelder) explains why all animals are vegetarian - even the carnivores - to a press conference; a heartfelt plea from murderous scamp Reggie Kray, and an extended interview with Carla Lane.
The series' title is a portmanteau of Brass Tacks and Private Eye, but is also slang for someone's anus and the name of a small metal implement used for nooses.