December 5th 2024.
It's that time of the year again when the most complained about TV programme is revealed. While there have been plenty of controversial moments on television in the past 12 months, the top spot might not come as a surprise. Good Morning Britain on ITV has taken the lead, becoming the most complained about programme of the year. However, it's not the only show from the broadcaster that sparked outrage, with Big Brother and Love Island also causing a stir.
Ofcom has yet to release their annual list confirming which moments received the most complaints, but according to Metro's findings, a total of 19,952 complaints have been made. A whopping 19,000 of these were for a single episode in August, where former politician Ed Balls interviewed his wife Yvette Cooper, who is also the home secretary. Viewers were quick to point out that their marital status may have compromised Ed's impartiality, with some calling the interview "ridiculous" and "insane."
But that's not the only episode that sparked fury among viewers. Ed's interview with MP Zarah Sultana over the UK race riots also received a significant number of complaints. She emphasized the importance of the government labeling the violent disorder as "Islamophobic" in addition to being racist. Some viewers were appalled by the way the other guests and hosts seemed to be sneering at Zarah, and many said they were "disgusted" and "uncomfortable" watching the interaction.
In response to the complaints, ITV stated that they believe the interviews were balanced, fair, and impartial. However, some viewers still felt that Ed gave his wife a much softer interview compared to the way he probed Zarah.
Another episode that caused quite a stir was a "shouting match" about XL bully dogs, where one guest suggested that the breed should be put down. This came after reports of XL bullies attacking children and even causing a woman's death. The heated argument became so intense that host Ranvir Singh had to intervene and bring it to an end. This episode alone received over 1,000 complaints.
But Good Morning Britain isn't the only ITV show that received a significant number of complaints this year. Love Island, which featured Joey Essex as a contestant, racked up a total of 2,903 complaints. Some of his comments and his overall appearance on the show sparked backlash from viewers.
Following closely behind in fourth place was Big Brother, with a total of 1,437 complaints. Some viewers found Marcello's behavior to be misogynistic, and there was also a joke that had racist connotations. In another episode, a pro-Palestine T-shirt worn by a contestant was edited out, causing even more outrage.
Even shows like This Morning and Piglets received complaints this year. This Morning received over 1,200 complaints, some of which were about a guest being called "repugnant." Meanwhile, viewers found Piglets to be "simply offensive." And of course, there were also fiery debates on Loose Women that didn't go unnoticed by Ofcom.
Last year, Good Morning Britain had the third most complained about episode after host Richard Madeley questioned MP Layla Moran about the conflict in Gaza. And this year, it was revealed that the most complained about moment ever was also from Good Morning Britain, with 54,595 complaints for Piers Morgan's comments about Meghan Markle's mental health. While Ofcom did not find the programme to have violated any rules, they reminded ITV to be more careful when discussing mental health and suicide in the future.
Good Morning Britain airs on ITV1 from 6am every weekday. If you have a story to share, you can get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency via email, phone, or by visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you!
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