The top 10 most complained about television shows of 2021 have been revealed.
It has been a record year for Ofcom, with more than 150,000 complaints made about various television shows.
The total figures do not include complaints about the BBC, which are handled by the corporation in the first instance.
Adam Baxter, Ofcom’s director of standards and audience protection, said: “Interestingly, it’s a relatively small number of TV shows driving the lion’s share; the top five most-complained about programmes account for 80% of all complaints.
“Social media – a digital home for modern-day water-cooler conversations – also has its influence on complaints figures.
“But for me, these volumes demonstrate the British public’s interest and passion for TV and radio programmes, and shows just how important they are to the cultural fabric of our nation.”
10 most complained about TV programmes of 2021
1. Good Morning Britain, ITV, 8 March
54,595 complaints
Piers Morgan sparked fury over his comments that he did not believe Meghan Markle when she said she felt suicidal. Pic: ITV
Piers Morgan sparked a furious backlash when he said he did not believe Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex’s comments about feeling suicidal as a member of the Royal Family during her Oprah interview with Prince Harry.
The host went on to quit the show after Meghan complained to ITV about how his comments may affect the issue of mental health generally.
2. Love Island, ITV2, 6 August
24,921 complaints
Teddy and Faye have remained together after leaving the villa
Most of the complaints mentioned contestant Faye Winter’s behaviour towards fellow contestant on the reality show, Teddy Soares.
Winter delivered a lengthy expletive-laden outburst towards her partner Soares, prompting 24,921 complaints.
The pair had an explosive argument after the islanders were played a clip of Soares telling another contestant, Clarisse Juliette, who had since been eliminated, that he was attracted to her.
3. Celebrities: What’s happened to your face? Channel 5
7,125 complaints
Charlotte Crosby called Channel 5’s Celebrities: What’s happened to your face? documentary series ‘appalling’
Viewers complained about comments make about a number of celebrities featured on the two-part series, which was promoted with the tagline: “The facial flaws of the famous.”
Some of the famous faces under fire included Simon Cowell, reality star Charlotte Crosby and Lizzie Cundy.
Channel 5 later halted the show after former Geordie Shore star Charlotte publicly said she was “appalled” and had requested not to be featured in it.
4. Oprah With Meghan and Harry, ITV, 8 March
6,486 complaints
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sparked complaints over their Oprah interview. Pic: CBS
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave an emotional interview about their reasons for quitting royal duties to seek financial independence in California.
Prince Harry shared his sadness for his father Prince Charles and brother Prince William, saying they were “trapped” within the Firm.
Meghan also said she felt suicidal as a royal and claimed her sister-in-law, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, made her cry in the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Harry, despite media outlets reporting the opposite at the time.
The couple also accused an unnamed member of the monarchy of questioning their son Archie’s skin colour before he was born during the two-hour show, which aired while Prince Philip was in hospital recovering from heart surgery.
The Royal Family also issued a statement days after the show was aired, with the now infamous line “recollections may vary”.
5. Love Island, ITV2, 28 July
4,337 complaints
The Love Island villa in Majorca. Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment
Viewers were left unhappy with the delivery of a postcard from Casa Amor to the main house by producers which showed the girls what their love interests were up to without them. Some said the snapshots were misleading.
6. Lorraine, ITV, 6 December
3,769 complaints
Dr Hilary Jones prompted anger over his comments about the number of unvaccinated people in hospital, where he claimed 90% of people currently in hospital have yet to have their vaccine.
Complaints are still under assessment.
7. Good Morning Britain, ITV, 9 March
3,249 complaints
Piers Morgan came under fire once again for asking co-host Charlotte Hawkins to stand so viewers could see her skirt.
He then went on to clash with another presenter Alex Beresford over Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview, leading to Piers storming off set live on-air.
8. Good Morning Britain, ITV, 1 November
2,632 complaints
The morning news show received thousands of complaints yet again over Dr Hilary Jones’s criticism over a fake COVID leaflet, before host Richard Madeley then tore it up.
9. Good Morning Britain, ITV, 1 June
2,104 complaints
A Good Morning Britain segment titled: “Ditching unvaccinated friends?” also sparked a furious response from many viewers earlier this summer.
10. This Morning, ITV, 26 February
1,942 complaints
ITV’s other famous daytime show This Morning ended up receiving over a thousand complaints about a segment called “How to lose the lockdown pounds.”
