Diversity’s BGT complaints soar above 24,000 almost breaking TV record

1. Celebrity Big Brother,  Channel 5 – 25,327 complaints 

Roxanne Pallett sparked national outrage in 2018 when she accused fellow ex soap star Ryan Thomas of deliberately punching her..

The scandal – dubbed ‘punch-gate’ – infuriated viewers who witnessed Roxanne grossly exaggerate her play fight with Ryan before she was removed.

The former Emmerdale actress said she left the house feeling like ‘the most hated women in Britain’ before apologising to Ryan for the upset caused.

 

2. Britain’s Got Talent, ITV –  24,041 complaints

A dance performance by former BGT winners Diversity has become the latest TV event to hit the record books for all the wrong reaons.

The provocative routine retold a number of major news events from 2020, including the killing of unarmed black man George Floyd, instantly polarised viewers with some accusing the family show of becoming ‘too political’.

ITV has stood by the decision to broadcast the routine with choreographer Ashley Banjo assuring fans that the positive comments he’s received far outweigh the bad.

 

3. Loose Women, ITV – 8,002 complaints

The daytime talk show was embroiled in scandal in 2018 over an ugly spat between guest Kim Woodburn and panelist Coleen Nolan that exploded live on air.

The two women had a long history of feuding and their meeting on the show was billed as the chance to settle their differences in front of viewers.

However, the stunt spectacularly backfired when a war of words quickly escalated and culminated in a highly emotional Kim calling Coleen ‘trash’ before storming off stage.

4. UKIP: The First 100 Days, Channel 4 – 6,187 complaints

The one-off mockumentary imagined what the world would be like if UKIP rose to power and won the General Election told from the perspective of a fictional Asian MP.

More than 6,000 viewers complained to Ofcom accusing the show of provoking electoral bias.

The Guardian reported that a ‘significant number’ of these were just a copy and paste job organised by far right group Britain First.

5. Sky News – 3,463 complaints

An interview with Tommy Robinson received thousands of complaints in 2018 with supporters of the right-wing activist complaining that he had been defamed by the channel and accused them of showing political bias.

In the chat, Robinson discussed being found guilty of contempt of court and his attitudes towards Muslims and Islam.

As it was broadcast, the interview was headlined: Tommy Robinson: I don’t care if I incite fear of Muslims.”

Robinson later called the interview ‘disgusting’ on his Facebook page prompting his followers to complain to the regulator.

Ofcom later ruled they were not investigate the alleged bias.