OFCOM REVEAL MOST COMPLAINED ABOUT TV MOMENTS OF 2024

Ofcom have revealed the TV moments which caused the most complaints this year.

1. Julia Hartley-Brewer, TalkTV, 3 January – 17,366 complaints

Ofcom add: "Comments made by Julia Hartley-Brewer during an interview with Dr Mustafa Barghouti, the general secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, prompted a significant volume of complaints to Ofcom. We told TalkTV to take extra care to ensure that potentially highly offensive comments are editorially justified."

2. Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 5 August – 16,851 complaints

Ofcom add: "The vast majority of complaints concerned an interview with Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South. Our assessment found that Ms Sultana was given ample opportunity to express her views and respond to the questions put to her. We also received around a thousand complaints about the same programme from viewers who objected to Ed Balls interviewing his wife, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary. We reminded ITV of the need to make such relationships clear to viewers and to take particular care over the compliance of any such interviews to ensure that due impartiality is preserved."

3. Love Island, ITV2, 24 July – 1,832 complaints

Ofcom add: "Viewers complained about the behaviour of Joey Essex and Sean Stone in this episode. We recognised that emotionally charged or confrontational scenes can upset some viewers. But, in our view, negative behaviour in the villa was not shown in a positive light, and contestants were seen supporting or apologising to each other."

4. Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 30 May – 1,777 complaints

Ofcom add: "Complaints followed a debate between two guests, Mike Parry and Kay Taiwo about whether XL bullies should be put down. While comments made by Mr Parry were potentially offensive to some viewers, they were met with significant challenge from dog trainer and XL Bully owner, Ms Taiwo, who put forward a strongly opposed point of view."

5. Emmerdale, ITV1, 27 and 28 May – 1,193 complaints

Ofcom add: "We received complaints after Tom was seen injecting a dog with an unknown substance, as part of ongoing coercive control storyline. While we recognised that this scene was an uncomfortable watch for some viewers, no graphic detail of animal abuse was shown, and Tom’s actions were not portrayed in a positive light. We also took into account that this long-running storyline depicting coercive control in a relationship would have been within audience expectations of this soap, which often tackles challenging themes and issues."

6. Big Brother, ITV2, 7 November – 747 complaints

Ofcom add: "We assessed complaints from viewers about a comment by Sarah, which they considered to be racially offensive. We understood viewers’ concerns, but in our view, the potential for offence was quickly made clear by Big Brother and the contestant was warned about her unacceptable behaviour. We also took into account that Sarah later apologised during the broadcast."

7. Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate, ITV1, 4 June – 710 complaints

Ofcom add: "We carefully considered complaints about a range of issues. In our view, both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were given sufficient opportunity throughout the programme to respond individually to the policy questions raised. On the issue of Labour’s tax plans, Sir Keir was able to robustly challenge the veracity of Rishi Sunak’s claims."

8. Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 2 October – 705 complaints

Ofcom add: "We received complaints about an interview with Nigel Farage. While the line of questioning was robust, we considered most viewers of this programme were likely to expect this type of interview with political figures. Mr Farage was also given sufficient opportunity to clearly articulate his point of view."

9. This Morning, ITV1, 28 May – 647 complaints

Ofcom add: "Some viewers were concerned that comments made by Nick Ferrari during the programme trivialised nut allergies. We took into account that the comments were made in response to a hypothetical scenario by a media personality well-known for his provocative opinions. We also noted that an apology was broadcast the following day."

10. Big Brother, ITV2, 22 October – 553 complaints

Ofcom add: "The majority of complaints were about imagery on a contestant’s clothing. Taking into account, among other things, that the prominence and duration of the image was limited, it was consistent with the individual’s right to personal expression, and it did not represent affiliation to a terrorist organisation, we did not find grounds to pursue further."