The 10 most complained about TV shows of 2019

Amy Johnson
The most complained about shows of 2019. (ITV.
The most complained about shows of 2019. (ITV. Carla Speight/Getty Images. Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Viewers are rarely afraid to voice their issues about what appears on their television and this year was no exception, as proven by Ofcom’s most complained TV shows of the 2019.

But it’s clear there’s one show that managed to cause more complaints than the rest as Love Island makes the list a grand total of three times, perhaps unsurprising considering the whole series received over 3,000 complaints.

Read more: The 10 most complained about TV shows of the decade

However, despite the outrage it caused over the summer, no episode of the sizzling summer contest triggered enough complaints to make it to the number one spot.

10. Britain’s Got Talent, ITV – 278 complaints

Amanda Holden poses for photographers upon arrival at a photo call for "Britain's Got Talent" in London, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Amanda Holden poses for photographers upon arrival at a photo call for "Britain's Got Talent" in London, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Britain's Got Talent’s first live show of this year sparked 278 complaints to Ofcom. 214 complaints said act The Haunting was "inappropriate for a family audience", while 56 complained about Amanda Holden swearing live on air after she was spooked by a supernatural stunt.

Ofcom considered the matter resolved after looking into the incident, stating it “took into account that this was a live broadcast of an emotive performance” and on-air apologies were issued by Holden, Simon Cowell and Ant McPartlin.

9. Love Island, ITV2 – 298 complaints

Some viewers were concerned about contestants' behaviour toward Danny Williams. (ITV)
Some viewers were concerned about contestants' behaviour toward Danny Williams. (ITV)

An episode of Love Island which aired 25 June attracted 298 complaints, with 288 of them about the behaviour of contestants and its effect on others. Some viewers who believed contestants Amber Gill and Anna Vakili were mistreating Danny Williams.

Read more: Laura Whitmore announced as Caroline Flack's Love Island replacement

Ofcom did not investigate the complaints.

8. Dancing on Ice, ITV – 328 complaints

LONDON, -, UNITED KINGDOM - 2018/12/18: Gemma Collins and Matt Evers at the Dancing On Ice Launch Showcase at the Natural History Museum Ice Rink, Kensington,. (Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Gemma Collins and Matt Evers at the Dancing On Ice Launch Showcase at the Natural History Museum Ice Rink, Kensington,. (Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

This year's series of Dancing On Ice received 328 complaints for one episode due to an exchange between contestant Gemma Collins and the show's judges.

While 193 objected to Collins' behaviour toward the judges, 135 viewers complained about the judges and presenters' behaviour toward Collins. Ofcom decided not to investigate the complaints.

7. Cyclists: Scourge of the Streets?, Channel 5 – 366 complaints

London, England - April 14, 2016: Cyclists using the newly opened segregated Cycle Superhighway at Kennington Oval in South London.
London, England - April 14, 2016: Cyclists using the newly opened segregated Cycle Superhighway at Kennington Oval in South London.

The Channel 5 documentary assessing the tension between motorists and cyclists triggered 366 complaints from viewers who stated the programme and its title was "biased against cyclists". Ofcom did not investigate the complaints.

6. All Out Politics, Sky News – 524 complaints

Lord Pearson gives a speech via video link during the Ukip annual conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. (Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images)
Lord Pearson gives a speech via video link during the Ukip annual conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. (Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images)

Lord Pearson prompted 524 viewers to complain to Ofcom when he appeared on All Out Politics and made comments about Muslim birthrates, saying they were "ten times faster" than that of non-Muslims. Viewers suggested the remarks could be "potentially offensive".

Read more: The cancelled TV shows of 2019

Ofcom is currently investigating whether or not it breached their rules on offence.

5. Love Island, ITV2 – 700 complaints

Lucie Donlan and Joe Garratt attend The Beauty Awards 2019 on November 25, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
Lucie Donlan and Joe Garratt attend The Beauty Awards 2019 on November 25, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)

The treatment of Lucie Donlan by her fellow Love Island contestants and partner Joe Garratt, who was accused of gaslighting her, on the ITV2 competition caused 700 complaints to be made to Ofcom. However, Ofcom did not investigate the complaints.

4. Love Island, ITV2 – 726 complaints

'Love Island' star Maura Higgins prompted complaints with her behaviour toward Tommy Fury. (ITV)
'Love Island' star Maura Higgins prompted complaints with her behaviour toward Tommy Fury. (ITV)

Love Island's most complained about moment from this year was after Maura Higgins attempted to seduce Tommy Fury by climbing atop him and trying to kiss him, with 709 out of 726 complaints for the episode referencing her "predatory behaviour". The complaints were not investigated.

3. The X Factor: Celebrity Final, ITV – 802 complaints

A performance by the reunited and scantily clad Pussycat Dolls on The X Factor: Celebrity sparked a backlash in November as viewers claimed it was "sexualised", with 802 complaints received.

Read more: Lauren Goodger agreed to endorse fake poison diet drink in BBC sting

The watchdog is currently assessing the complaints received over the routine.

2. Good Morning Britain, ITV - 955 complaints

Piers Morgan's comments on gender weren't investigated by Ofcom. (ITV)
Piers Morgan's comments on gender weren't investigated by Ofcom. (ITV)

The ever-divisive Piers Morgan fuelled 955 complaints when viewers felt his comments “ridiculed gender identity issues”. During a debate in response to a BBC film that said there are more than 100 genders, Morgan said he identified "as a penguin".

Ofcom "reminded ITV that strong views on issues such as sex or gender reassignment should be presented with care" before ruling that the show “did not raise issues warranting investigation”.

1. Channel 4 News, 2019 - 2,717 complaints

Jon Snow, journalist and television presenter, best known as the longest-running presenter of Channel 4 News, on the day that Conservative Party MPs triggered a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister on 12th December 2018 in London, England, United Kingdom. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images Images)
Jon Snow sparked the most complaints of 2019. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images Images)

The show at the top spot is Channel 4 News as Jon Snow sparked 2,717 complaints to Ofcom by saying that he had “never seen so many white people in one place” after a day of rallies and protests relating to Brexit while signing off on a broadcast in March of this year.

It was found that the veteran presenter had not breached broadcasting rules.

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