THE MOST complained-about TV moments of 2024 have been revealed – with daytime TV, reality shows, soap operas and politics dominating the list.
Experts at QR Code Generator (https://qrfy.com/) analysed Ofcom Audience Complaint Data from January to November 2024 to determine which TV programmes have received the most complaints from viewers.
The TV show with the most complaints is Good Morning Britain (GMB), with 19,832 complaints in total. A segment aired in April involved a heated debate on immigration policy, which received 8,000 complaints alone. From outspoken presenters to on-air debates, the show attracts significant popularity but a lot of mixed opinions.
Love Island received the second highest number of complaints – 2,903 in total. Notable drama from this year’s series included the introduction of TV Personality Joey Essex, whose involvement stirred controversy and reshaped alliances that didn’t go down well with viewers. Although the show is wildly popular, it has been pulled up on cases of toxic behaviour, unrealistic beauty standards and a lack of safeguarding.
In third place is Emmerdale, which received 1,471 Ofcom complaints. Belle Dingle’s abusive marriage to Tom King has been a prominent storyline in 2024, which highlights gaslighting and control in a relationship, sensitive to some viewers. While the producers aim to address societal issues and entertain, the line between thought-provoking drama and distressing content can be fine, leading to viewer backlash.
Big Brother places fourth, with 1,437 complaints this year. This year’s series has received complaints due to controversial comments and actions made by the housemates. This includes contentious symbolism in which a T-shirt worn by a housemate was considered politically provocative and led to the episode being edited and re-aired due to the backlash.
In fifth place is This Morning, which received 1,264 complaints. The show has faced criticism over controversial guests, including adult content creator Bonnie Blue. Her appearance, during which she made provocative comments about her profession, led to significant viewer backlash and prompted multiple complaints to Ofcom.
Married at First Sight UK is the sixth most complained about TV Show, raking in 1,170 complaints this year. The primary cause of complaints on this year’s series were due to allegations of bullying and aggressive behaviour amongst the cast. A key event which led to 230 complaints alone was Holly Ditchfield’s treatment towards Hannah Nonburn in several heated arguments. Viewers sympathised with Hannah due to the hostile language used towards her, causing visible distress throughout the series.
Sunak v Starmer: The ITV1 Debate is in seventh, with 686 complaints. The June debate touched on highly sensitive topics such as healthcare, taxes, immigration, and national security. The two also clashed views on the European Convention on Human Rights which attracted many mixed opinions from the public.
In eighth is People’s Forum: The Prime Minister, with 535 complaints. The programme, which aired in February, featured then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak answering questions from an audience of undecided voters. Critics argued that Sunak’s responses were not properly answered or meaningful and that the show lacked a proper political perspective.
Farage takes ninth place, with 472 complaints. Reform leader Nigel Farage received many Ofcom complaints due to his biased content and inflammatory statements. His strong opinions on immigration and British values were heavily criticised by viewers and has received accusations of Islamophobia.
In tenth place is Talk Today with Jeremy Kyle and Rosie Wright, raking in 392 Ofcom complaints this year. A key incident involved an interview with Julia Hartley-Brewer, whose remarks during an interview with Dr Mustafa Barghouti were perceived as offensive due to their political nature.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO SL, said: “Although opinions on what constitutes offensive content can vary, issues such as inappropriate language, biased or unfair reporting, and harmful stereotypes are common reasons why Ofcom receives complaints.
“The year 2024 has been politically significant due to the general election, making it unsurprising that political programmes have attracted a considerable volume of complaints. A nation divided along political lines naturally leads to strong opinions, which, combined with public perception of the tone of remarks, contribute to the high number of grievances.
“Ofcom has influenced change in several programmes to ensure they are more suitable for sensitive audiences. This can include a range of actions, from fines and sanctions to changes in content or public apologies in response to the offences that the shows have caused.”
