ITV’s morning star, Good Morning Britain, has been subject to critique.
With the festive season imminent and an array of special television episodes on the horizon, fresh analysis has spotlighted the most complained about TV segments of 2024 to date, with the August 5 episode of Good Morning Britain claiming the dubious honour.
Research conducted by online gambling review platform BetPokies scrutinised complaint figures from Ofcom for every week of 2024 to pinpoint the shows bearing the brunt of viewer grievances and their specific air dates.
The roundup lists this year’s highest viewer backlash moments, with ITV’s morning programme featuring at the pinnacle.
1. Good Morning Britain ITV Aired on 05/08/2024 16,883 complaints.
It emerged that the instalment of Good Morning Britain aired on August 5 provoked a striking 16,783 objections, marking it as the most complained-about broadcast by a considerable lead. The show faced criticism for two particular interviews: one with Independent MP Zarah Sultana and another with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, reports the Mirror.
When GMB host Ed Balls interviewed his wife, Yvette Cooper, allegations swirled regarding a potential conflict of interest. Additionally, the line of questioning by Balls alongside co-host Kate Garraway towards Zarah Sultana prompted disapproval.
Despite this, ITV defended its position, asserting that its interview conduct was “balanced, fair and duly impartial.”
An Ofcom spokesperson commented: “We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”
The interviews in question were linked to the widespread racist riots that erupted across the UK during the summer.
2. Love Island ITV2 Transmission 24/07/2024 1,831 complaints.
The episode of Love Island aired on July 24 became the second most complained-about, with 1,831 viewers expressing discontent after a fiery dispute erupted during a challenge. In this challenge, contestants had to guess how the public voted on which couple was merely pretending to be together for the sake of winning the show.
In dramatic footage, the Islanders were thrilled to discover they’d been invited to an exclusive awards event named The Grafties. The text message announcing the news said: “Islanders, it’s awards season and tonight you are invited to a ceremony all about you. The winner of each category has been chosen by the public. Prepare your acceptance speeches and glam up, it’s time for The Grafties! #AndTheWinnerIs #RollTheTapes.”
The episode kicked off with a bang as one couple was immediately voted the least compatible by the public and had to leave the show, resulting in Harry and Lola, the newest additions, being sent packing to everyone’s shock.
But it was the ‘It’s Giving One Sided’ award that really stirred the pot. Sean didn’t hold back his thoughts about Josh, stating: “You’ve made Mimii exclusive, quite quick as well so I feel like it’s some one sided game to be fair.”
However, he retaliated, referencing Sean’s Casa Amor behaviour, telling him: “I just didn’t need to go through three people to know who I want.”
Sean stood his ground, telling Josh: “You’ve come in, stuck with Mimii, contemplated it with Grace, but you didn’t have the bottle to go through with it… You’ve made some mad moves and played it quite safe.”
Joey then intervened to defend Sean, suggesting, “I feel like what he’s trying to say is that you’ve gone exclusive under pressure quite quickly” but this sparked a fiery argument in the villa as Josh bristled at Joey’s comment.
Joey’s partner Jessy quickly backed her partner, telling Josh: “You’re not listening, this is your problem! ” The situation spiralled into chaos as it became Joey and Sean versus Josh.
3. Good Morning Britain ITV Transmission 30/05/2024 1,765 complaints.
Another episode of Good Morning Britain, broadcast on May 30, took third place with 1,765 complaints due to a debate between Mike Parry and Kay Taiwo about the XL Bully dog ban.
The discussion heated up when Richard asked how Mike would propose eliminating every XL bully in the country. Mike responded: “The only legal XL bully dogs in the country are registered. We know where they all are and they should go away.”
Kay, who had brought her dog to the ITV studio, said Mike “wasn’t making sense.”
Kay retorted to Mike’s claims by stating: “If you’re talking about the size of a dog making you feel afraid, there’s so many dogs you can feel afraid of. And if you’re talking about the purpose of a breed, then you don’t understand the purpose of an XL.”
In an intense exchange, Mike interjected loudly, exclaiming: “Why does that dog have jaws that are so strong that they break arms?” Unfazed, Kay replied: “The dog has a muzzle because it’s the law,” standing her ground in the heated debate. As the argument escalated, co-anchor Ranvir Singh intervened, attempting to calm the situation, saying: “Guys. Kay and Mike. Kay and Mike. It’s the debate that we’re going to keep having, isn’t it? But thank you both for coming here, you represent very different points of view.”
The camera quickly switched from the interview as Ranvir addressed Joel Dommett, who was next up presenting Lorraine.
Taken aback by the fervour of the discussion, Dommett remarked: “Wow. Woah. That was intense.”
This fiery confrontation is particularly notable following new legislation making it a criminal offence in England and Wales to own an XL Bully without a specific exemption certificate, compelling owners to neuter, microchip, muzzle, and leash their dogs in public domains.
Interestingly, the fourth place in the number of Ofcom complaints went to an Emmerdale episode aired on 27/05/2024 which courted controversy and 826 complaints due to a plot centred around the poisoning of a dog.
Viewers were left appalled in June following scenes where Belle’s tormentor, Tom King, poisoned their beloved dog, Piper, in an attempt to have Belle freed from a mental health facility. The episode resulted in backlash from viewers, with some claiming they could no longer continue watching and had to switch off their TVs in response.
Despite the show’s assurances that Minnie, the canine actress portraying Piper, was unharmed, sharing behind-the-scenes videos for reassurance, fans remained disgruntled. One viewer posted: “I think we’ll let @Ofcom decide on whether it was acceptable to include this in the storyline. Someone’s got to rain your show in from its extraordinary obsession with turning it into a 9pm show. Where are the family storylines? The fun? It never gets aired without a prior warning.”
Another expressed concern: “People know Piper/Minnie is loved dearly, it’s the animal cruelty that everyone is upset about. It will give abusive partners, ideas.”
And another voiced frustration: “I think most of us know the pup is fine, but there was no real need to show the extensive abuse that you did. The storyline has gone on far too long.”
5. Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate ITV Transmission 04/06/2024 686 complaints.
June’s election debate on ITV featuring Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer has entered the top five most complained-about broadcasts, garnering a total of 686 complaints. John Gold, the founder of BetPokies, commented: “It’s interesting to see the range of programmes to feature on this list, with news programmes sitting alongside reality TV and soaps. Many complaints come from channels that don’t directly benefit from the TV license fee, which may surprise some, as it may be expected that programming the public pays for may be more divisive.”
“That being said, 2024 is not over yet, and moments could still happen that could top this list, and it will be worth noting how this changes as the year ends.”
The debate sparked outrage among viewers, leading them to file complaints with Ofcom.
Sunak’s unchallenged assertion that Labour’s plan would result in £2,000 of tax hikes per working household led to 298 complaints. Additionally, Sunak’s perceived disproportionate amount of speaking time during the debate prompted 219 complaints.
A further 161 grievances were raised concerning the handling of a question about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Julie Etchingham moderated the hour-long leaders’ debate on ITV, having also hosted televised events in the previous three national elections.
Remaining most complained-about moments:
6.This Morning ITV Transmission 28/05/2024 637 complaints.
7. People’s Forum: The Prime Minster GB News Aired 12/02/2024 535 complaints.
8. Farage GB News Aired 28/02/2024 427 complaints.
9. Good Morning Britain ITV Aired 18/06/2024 471 complaints.
10. Talk Today with Jeremy Kyle and Rosie Wright TalkTV Aired 14/02/2024 392 complaints.