'Love Island' 2021 receives most Ofcom complaints in show's history
Watch: Love Island challenge sparks 25,000 viewer complaints
The current series of Love Island has received the most Ofcom complaints in the history of the reality show, with more than 30,000 viewers getting in touch.
The Times has reported that the UK's broadcast regulator has received at least 33,540 complaints in connection with this year's series.
Read more: Love Island star Priya receives racist abuse
It is clear that the majority of those complaints were related to the show's 'Mad Movies' challenge and the fallout, in which contestant Faye Winter yelled at and argued with her partner Teddy Soares.
Winter reacted strongly to a clip of Soares at Casa Amor, in which he appeared to be considering a romantic connection with new arrival Clarisse Juliette.
The couple have since reconciled and made their relationship official during their "final date" this week.
The level of Ofcom complaints this year dwarfs the number attracted by previous series, with the most recent run — aired in early 2020 as the inaugural winter series — drawing just 1,125 complaints.
In 2019, the summer series received 2,837 complaints, while 4,192 complained in 2018 — mostly in relation to an incident involving Dani Dyer in which she was also shown an out-of-context clip from Casa Amor.
That episode ultimately received more than 2,000 complaints, while Dyer and partner Jack Fincham went on to win the show.
Read more: Dr Alex George condemns Love Island death threats
The 2021 series of Love Island has proved controversial for several reasons, including a row over racist language used by contestant Dany Bibby on social media, which led to more than 1,500 complaints.
Bibby apologised from the villa, issuing a statement in which he said he "never meant anything malicious by this comment at all".
Love Island is due to come to an end on Monday, after a dramatic final week in which early favourites Liberty Poole and Jake Cornish split up and opted to voluntarily leave the villa.
The remaining four couples are: Soares and Winter, Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows, Liam Reardon and Millie Court, and Tyler Cruickshank and Kaz Kamwi.
Laura Whitmore has travelled to Majorca in order to present the final episode live from the villa, in which viewers will vote for their favourite couple — and they will win the £50,000 prize.
Read more: Montana Brown warns Love Island fame doesn't last
The show has been under considerable scrutiny around the mental health of participants this year, with producers pledging to deliver an improved programme of aftercare for those involved.
Yahoo Entertainment UK has approached ITV for comment.
Watch: Jake and Liberty choose to leave the Love Island villa
