The 10 most complained about TV shows of the decade
The decade is drawing to a close as we step into the twenties and leave the tenties behind, and all the uproar that came with it.
Television has long been a source of anger for many, and viewers don’t hold back when it comes to complaining and getting their point of view across.
Now, Ofcom has revealed which television moments sparked the most outrage over the past ten years.
Read more: The cancelled TV shows of 2019
While the complaints span the decade, it seems as though 2018 was quite a year in terms of broadcasting as four of the top ten happened last year, including the incident that has been dubbed the most complained about.
10. Sky News with Kay Burley, 2015 - 1,838 complaints
Viewers took umbrage with the tone of an interview Sky News' Kat Burley undertook with Alton Towers' owners, Merlin Entertainment, chief executive Nick Varney following an accident on one of the park's rides which left 16 people injured, with 1,838 people complaining to Ofcom. Burley never faced an investigation into her comments, which also sparked an online petition calling for her to be fired from the news programme.
9. Big Brother, 2015 - 2,024 complaints
The Big Brother format managed to make the list twice as 2,024 complaints were made when Helen Wood said fellow competitor Brian Belo looked like a "murderer and rapist".
Read more: Emma Willis 'jealous' of husband Matt's 'fun' parenting
Belo went on to quit the show by escaping over a wall after saying he felt "degraded". The programme was ultimately cleared by Ofcom.
8. The Wright Stuff, 2011 - 2,358 complaints
The Wright Stuff prompted 2,358 complaints to Ofcom over “insensitive and inappropriate” comments host Matthew Wright and guest made while discussing a Daily Mail article about the first murder case in the Hebrides for 40 years. The presenter used a mock Scottish accent and a catchphrase from detective show Taggart when discussing the murder of teenager Liam Aitchison for which he later apologised.
However, Ofcom did decide to launch an investigation, eventually concluding it had caused “considerable offence” to viewers but that the matter was resolved following steps taken by Channel 5 to deal with the situation.
7. Love Island, 2018 - 2,644 complaints
Love Island viewers weren't happy when Dani Dyer was left in tears after learning her partner Jack Fincham had been joined by his ex in Casa Amor as 2,644 viewers complained to Ofcom.
Read more: Caroline Flack quits winter Love Island after assault charge
Concerns were raised about the “emotional distress” caused to contestants as she had been shown the footage of the pair reunited. Ofcom decided not to launch an investigation.
6. Channel 4 News, 2019 - 2,717 complaints
Jon Snow sparked 2,717 complaints to be made to Ofcom after a day of rallies and protests relating to Brexit, that he had “never seen so many white people in one place” while signing off on a broadcast in March of this year. It was found that the veteran presenter had not breached broadcasting rules.
5. The X Factor, 2010 - 2,868 complaints
Rihanna and Christina Aquilera prompted Ofcom complaints back in 2010 as 2,868 viewers claimed their performances were too explicit to be aired before the 9pm watershed.
Read more: Pussycat Dolls reunion sparks flurry of complaints over raunchy costumes
The X Factor was cleared by the broadcasting watchdog.
4. Sky News, 2018 - 3,463 complaints
Sky News aired a controversial interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson comprised of footage which had been edited down to eight minutes. 3,463 viewers alleging “bias and defamation of character” in the editing the interview. Robinson went on to brand the interview "disgusting" on his Facebook page. Ofcom decided not to investigate the complaints.
3. UKIP: The First 100 days, 2015 - 6,187 complaints
The 2015 docudrama imagined a future where UKIP won the general election, however, 6,187 viewers complained the portrayal of the political party was “misleading, offensive and biased”.
Read more: James Corden mocks Boris Johnson in his Saturday Night Live debut
The drama was cleared by Ofcom, who said the programme had been "duly impartial".
2. Loose Women, 2018 - 8,002 complaints
Ofcom saw 8,002 viewers complain about an episode of Loose Women which aired last year. 7,912 of the the complaints came as Kim Woodburn appeared on the ITV show where she was asked if she would make amends with Coleen Nolan, with whom she clashed with when they both appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.
The interview saw Woodburn storm off set after becoming visibly upset, with Nolan taking a break from appearing on the programme for several months afterwards. Ofcom eventually cleared Loose Women over the complaints.
1. Celebrity Big Brother, 2018 - 25,327 complaints
The most complained about TV show of the decade is Celebrity Big Brother following the "punch-gate" incident between Roxanne Pallett and Ryan Thomas which received 25,327 complaints. The debacle saw the Emmerdale actor tell Big Brother that Thomas had 'repeatedly, intentionally and aggressively’ punched her while play fighting with the show going on to issue a formal warning against him.
Read more: Roxanne Pallett thought about taking her life after Celebrity Big Brother scandal
It prompted thousands of complaints, with Pallett herself admitting she "got it wrong" upon her exit. Pallett eventually walked from the show to later be interviewed by host Emma Willis where she described herself as "the most hated girl in Britain". Thomas went on to win the show while Celebrity Big Brother was cleared by Ofcom.
