Advanced Television

Big Brother most complained about TV of 2014

January 2, 2015

Despite being a ratings disaster, Big Brother has topped the list as the most complained about TV show of 2014.

Media watchdog Ofcom has reported that it received 3,784 complaints about the Channel 5 reality television show, and 1,874 about its sister show Celebrity Big Brother.  Many of the complaints related to the behaviour of winner Helen Wood, who was said by some to have bullied her fellow contestants. Others, however, were simply unhappy that Wood was crowned winner of the contest.

Complainants about its celebrity sister programme were upset by the treatment of Gary Busey, an actor who clashed with other contestants on his way to winning the show. Some though were more concerned about his tendency to walk around in his underwear.

Other programmes complained about included the Channel 4 documentary Cutting Edge about dog fighting, which prompted complaints of alleged animal cruelty and alleged endorsement of criminal behaviour.  Benefits Street, also on Channel 4, was attacked for unfairly portraying people using the welfare system in a negative light.

A Sky News broadcast, in which reporter Colin Brazier was seen picking through the belongings of victims of the MH17 air disaster in Ukraine, also features in the top 10, having attracted 205 complaints.

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