Yahoo News The 22 most complained-about shows of 2017 so far
Telly fans certainly like to keep the watchdog busy. TV regulatory outfit Ofcom has received thousands of complaints through its virtual letterbox already this year from angry viewers who think what's being shown on screen is completely unacceptable.
From swearing before the 9pm watershed to celebrities' outfits to aggressive interviewing, the time-on-its-hands public doesn't think twice about reaching for a pen and paper and kick-starting a campaign.
But what's got our goat the most? Sorry Piers, we know you tried your best but it's not Good Morning Britain.
Digital Spy can inform you that it is in fact…
1. Press Preview on Sky News – 1,055 complaints
Yes, really. Ofcom was flooded with more than 1,000 complaints after Kay Burley grilled Merlin Entertainment chief Nick Varney back in June. Varney appeared on the show following a crash at Alton Towers theme park, which left 16 people injured including teenager Leah Washington, who devastatingly needed her leg amputated.
Those tuning in at home were so horrified by Burley's aggressive approach to the interview that they even followed up their complaints letters with a petition to have the presenter sacked.
Despite the public uproar, Ofcom ruled that it would not investigate Sky News over the interview and Burley wasn't fired – but her popularity took a beating.
2. Britain's Got Talent – 743 complaints
The second most complained-about show on TV this year is Britain's Got Talent, but surprisingly it has nothing to do with Mr Nasty Simon Cowell. Actually, it's Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden who have managed to rub viewers up the wrong way.
Now, we don't want to offend their stylists or the ITV wardrobe department, but it looks like some viewers disliked the judges' outfits so much that they actually took offence at them. Ofcom received just short of 750 complaints over the course of three episodes because the ladies' ensembles were allegedly too racy for a family show.
Saving the BGT judges much embarrassment, the watchdog didn't quite agree with the outcry and decided to not investigate the matter further. While it acknowledged the outfits had "potential" to cause offence to families, ITV had "appropriately scheduled" the programme.
3. Good Morning Britain – 440 complaints
In third place, good ol' GMB finally makes an appearance on the most complained-about shows list. So far this year, the programme has sparked 440 angry letters to Ofcom. But again, much to everyone's surprise, the majority of people writing in didn't mention the resident Mr Nasty, Piers.
In fact, it was English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson that upset everyone with his vicious comments about Islam when he appeared on the show. Viewers were disgusted by the controversial figure as he branded the Koran a "violent and cursed book" just days after a terrorist attack on a London mosque, which tragically saw one man killed and eight others injured.
Many of those tuning in were absolutely furious with ITV for even giving air time to the right-wing political figure, who is notorious for his extremist beliefs. While the broadcaster has since defended its decision to allow Robinson on the show, Ofcom is yet to rule on whether it will launch an investigation.
4. Comic Relief 2017 – 345 complaints
We hate to share this with you but the next most complained-about show of the year so far is a charity favourite. Ofcom was inundated with hundreds of angry letters over the content of the 2017 fundraising show, which included footage of a child dying of malaria.
Viewers also raised issues about the use of sexual material in a comedy sketch performed by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer as they mock-interviewed Susanna Reid. However, the media watchdog dropped its investigation after ruling the BBC had not breached any broadcasting rules or regulations.
5. Emmerdale – 285 complaints
In terms of soaps, we can confirm Emmerdale is the most controversial as far as complaints are concerned. Undoubtedly the most controversial storyline on the Dales at the moment is the abusive relationship between Pierce Harris and his wife Rhona Goskirk.
Earlier this year, viewers were left in shock when Pierce raped Rhona on their wedding day, in scenes that were aired well before the 9pm watershed. Actress Zoe Henry, who plays Rhona, admitted she herself had concerns about how dark the story was becoming.
"When we rehearsed it, which we don't normally, I did air my concerns about how brutal some of the stuff we were doing was," she said. "I asked, 'Are we going to be able to show all of this?'
"Our director said: 'We can't half-tell this story. You can't cut it down or make it less brutal, because what he's done is brutal and awful. If we don't tell it properly, then we're not doing our jobs right'. So that's why it's so awful to watch."
After much consideration, Ofcom decided a full investigation was not necessary.
"We took into account that the broadcaster had issued a warning and the scene was limited," a spokesperson told Digital Spy. "It was also the culmination of a long-running storyline, and so was likely to have been in line with what most viewers were expecting. Emmerdale is known to have covered many challenging social issues."
So there you have it. The above are the UK's top five most complained-about shows this year so far. But if you'd like to see what other programmes were reported to Ofcom HQ, carry on reading...
6. Celebrity Big Brother – 237
7. Big Brother – 197
8. EastEnders – 167
9. Coronation Street – 164
10. Benidorm – 135
11. May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10 – 85
12. Channel 4 News – 60
13. Loose Women – 58
14. Revolting – 55
15. This Morning – 37
16. Sky News – 28
17. Naked Attraction – 27
18. Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway – 20
19. Ramsay's Hotel Hell – 19
20. Love Island – 15
21. Celebrity Fat Fighters – 10
22. Call the Midwife – 10
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