Peppa Pig’s brother George gets diagnosed as moderately deaf
Globally, an estimated 34 million children are deaf, yet we don’t always see their stories told in the media.
Another important moment in Peppa Pig is not a playground or a puddle, but a hearing test. George, Peppa’s younger brother, is shown in future episodes as moderately deaf and wearing a hearing aid, reinforcing the portrayal of disability in early childhood television series.
The updated George storyline will be featured in both digital shorts and the broadcast series. The story follows George’s hearing assessment and diagnosis of moderate hearing loss in one ear, before his hearing aid is introduced and fitted. It aims to reflect the situations faced by many children and families who are first exposed to hearing differences.
New short episodes are starting to air on the Peppa Pig Tales YouTube channel from February 6. One segment features scenes from George’s auditory perspective, allowing young viewers to experience how everyday sounds and conversations might sound different to him.
The story continues throughout the main series’ 11th season, including a March 9, 2026, broadcast on the UK channel Milkshake!, beginning with an episode titled “Hearing Test,” in which a routine check-up reveals hearing loss.
Producers developed the story in consultation with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) to ensure the portrayal remained grounded and age-appropriate.
Brand owner “Hasbro” said the goal was to reflect real-life experiences and help normalize hearing aid use and hearing differences for preschool-aged audiences. Behind the scenes, deaf executive producer and script consultant Camilla Arnold contributed to the development process to ensure accuracy and tone.
The George storyline extends the show’s model by expanding the character representation. Previous seasons introduced Mandy Mouse, who uses a wheelchair, and Penny Polar Bear, who has two mothers. Along with the new episodes, the franchise is also adding British and American Sign Language versions of select content and releasing toys featuring George with a hearing aid.
Families can head over to the NDCS’s new page to access resources on supporting children with hearing loss.
Credits:
Image courtesy of Peppa Pig Tales.
