UK media regulator Ofcom received 44 complaints about the television series including complaints about violence , offensive language and child actors being involved in scenes of adult content . 37 of the complaints related to a scene at the beginning of the third episode where a shooting takes place in a secondary school . Channel 4 also received 28 complaints about the scene . It was aired a month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut , USA . A spokesman for Channel 4 responded , " Channel 4 thought very carefully about continuing with the planned broadcast of '' Utopia '' . The drama is in no way based on real events , and the scenes featuring violence are editorially justified within the context of the storyline . All material has been carefully considered in accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and we were satisfied that , appropriately scheduled in a late night slot at 10 pm and preceded by clear on-air warnings about the graphic violence and very strong language , it could be broadcast as planned . " In the second series , the use of real life events including the assassination of Airey Neave prompted criticisms of the show by a number of people , including members of the murdered politician 's family . In response , Channel 4 issued a statement and said that the drama series is " entirely fictional " and " it is not Channel 4 's intention to cause offence and '' Utopia '' does not suggest that any other real organisation was responsible for the death of Airey Neave . " In 2014 , the series was nominated for and won the International Emmy Award for best drama series
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Utopia (British TV series)