In 2024, complaints from viewers and listeners about content broadcast on television and radio were in line with last year’s volumes. Taken together, the top 10 most complained about programmes represents 61% of the total volume of complaints this year. Two programmes are responsible for nearly half of all complaints.
Viewers and listeners are at the heart of what we do, and we consider carefully each complaint we receive. All broadcasters are treated equally and fairly and held to the same high standards that UK viewers and listeners expect.
Today’s figures don’t include complaints about programmes on the BBC. Under the BBC Charter, these are handled by the BBC in the first instance – this is known as the BBC first process.
Maintaining standards in an election year
Earlier this year, the UK went to the polls; we reminded broadcasters of the importance of maintaining due impartiality ahead of the General Election, and issued strengthened guidance for those that use politicians as presenters.
Complaints about TV and radio coverage of the General Election accounted for just 4% of all complaints this year. Later in the year, the UK watched as the US elected a new President with complaints about US election coverage making up under 1% of 2024’s total.
Marking Ofcom’s 500th Broadcast Bulletin
This year, we also marked Ofcom’s 500th Broadcast Bulletin reflecting on over 700,000 complaints received since its inception and the most complained about programmes in Ofcom’s history.
Published every other Monday, the Broadcast Bulletin is the go-to source for details of new investigations, our decisions and listings of complaints about programmes that don’t raise issues under our rules.
In 2024, we published 26 Broadcast Bulletins which announced 43 new broadcast standards investigations, as well the outcome of 58 investigations. We found a total of 40 programmes in breach of our broadcasting rules and are working to conclude the others as quickly as possible.
Up next: subtitles and standards for streamers
In 2025, we’ll start to see changes to how major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ are regulated. That’s because the Media Act, which passed in May 2024, will introduce a new video-on-demand Code for these platforms.
For the first time, some streamers will be subject to new rules, similar to the ones that protect people from harmful content on broadcast TV.
Streaming services will also have new accessibility requirements, such as subtitling, so more people can access this content.
In 2025, we will consult on what our video-on-demand code will look like – so stay tuned for that.
Ofcom’s most complained about programmes of 2024
- Julia Hartley-Brewer, TalkTV, 3 January – 17,366 complaints
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.
- Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 5 August – 16,851 complaints
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.
- Love Island, ITV2, 24 July – 1,832 complaints
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.
- Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 30 May – 1,777 complaints
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.
- Emmerdale, ITV1, 27 and 28 May – 1,193 complaints
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.
- Big Brother, ITV2, 7 November – 747 complaints
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.
- Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate, ITV1, 4 June – 710 complaints
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.
- Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 2 October – 705 complaints
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.
- This Morning, ITV1, 28 May – 647 complaints
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.
- Big Brother, ITV2, 22 October – 553 complaints
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.