A single episode of Love Island has beaten several I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here moments from the latest series to be the most complained about TV event of the year. Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has confirmed the top 10 moments which have been slapped with the most complaints in 2022 as the year nears a close.
The apparent 'misogynistic and bullying behaviour' on this summer's edition of Love Island, which saw Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti emerge as winners after eight weeks in the ITV2 dating show's Spanish villa, has been confirmed as the most complained about moment on television in the past 12 months.
In regulator Ofcom's annual report, an episode of the reality show on July 17 received 2,630 complaints relating to "alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour by some contestants in the villa" with Ofcom concluding no formal investigation was needed because of how the behaviour was put into context.
The specific episode in question saw the explosive fallout from Mad Movies, with Luca Bish left fuming at then-partner Gemma Owen while accusing her of ‘flirting’ with Casa Amour boy Billy Brown - despite her insisting she wasn’t ‘entertaining’ the new bombshell's advances.
Love Island then appeared on the list twice more – in fourth and seventh places, both also relating to "complaints related to alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour by some contestants in the villa".
But he second most complained about TV event of the year was Matt Hancock’s inclusion on I’m A Celebrity which prompted 1,890 complaints between November 6 and 27. The former health secretary came under fire, as did ITV, for his appearance on the hit ITV reality show.
Despite Matt, 44, facing questions from his fellow campmates about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his reasons for going into the Australian jungle, the Tory MP made it to the final where he finished in third place behind Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner and former Lioness, and now Queen of the Jungle, Jill Scott.
At the time, of Matt's appearance on the show, the broadcasting regulator insisted they couldn't rule over who might appear on the show. The statement read: "It’s worth being aware that under our rules, in principle - and taking into account freedom of expression - there's no ban on any particular person taking part in programmes.
However, if the mere presence of a person is likely to cause offence, we would expect broadcasters to take steps to mitigate or justify that offence. How they do that editorially, is up to them. As usual, we'll be assessing all these complaints against our broadcasting rules, before deciding whether or not to investigate."
Elsewhere on the list, This Morning racked up complaints over the programme’s popular game Spin to Win which was widely criticised for giving away cash for energy bills as a prize. Richard Madeley also sparked Ofcom complaints on February 15 on Good Morning Britain, when he spoke about death threats made to Keir Starmer.
Jeremy Vine's show also made the list as did Gary Neville's comments during the recent FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and France when the former Manchester United footballer and pundit compared the treatment of nurses in the UK to that of migrant workers after Qatar, where the tournament was being held.
Top ten Ofcom complaints in 2022:
- Love Island, ITV2, 17 July - complaints related to alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour by some contestants in the villa.
- I’m a Celebrity.... Get me out of here!, ITV, 6-27 November - viewers objected to the inclusion of Matt Hancock in the series.
- Friday Night Live, Channel 4, 21 October - complaints related to a performance by Jordan Gray.
- Love Island, ITV2, 19 July - complaints related to alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour by some contestants in the villa.
- Good Morning Britain, ITV, 15 February - complaints related to comments made by Richard Madeley about death threats made to Keir Starmer.
- Jeremy Vine, Channel 5, 24 January - viewers complained about a health consultant’s inaccurate statement about numbers of unvaccinated people in hospital with Covid-19.
- Love Island, ITV2, 18 July - complaints related to alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour by some contestants in the villa.
- I’m a Celebrity.... Get me out of here!, ITV, 13 November - viewers objected to bullying behaviour against Matt Hancock.
- FIFA World Cup Final 2022: Argentina v France, ITV, 18 December - complaints related to politicised comments from Gary Neville.
- Sky News, Sky News, 10 September - a Justice for Chris Kaba walk was reported as people on their way to pay tribute to the late Queen. Ofcom is investigating whether this breached our rules on due accuracy.
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