Reality television featured prominently on the list of the most complained about TV shows in the UK this past year, although certain news broadcasts also managed to attract the ire of viewers.
This is according to Ofcom’s broadcasting standards team, which has published its complaint data for 2025, revealing the most complained-about TV shows and episodes from the past year.
The regulator received 49,580 complaints this past year, lower than the total amount received in 2024, and 36% of these complaints were related to the top 10 most complained-about broadcasts.
Reality TV shows make up more than half of the ten most complained-about programmes, with Love Island alone accounting for around three in ten complaints to Ofcom last year.
Love Island-related complaints largely centred around alleged bullying behaviour towards Shakira, with a smaller number complaining about Megan returning to the villa.
Channel 5’s Vanessa attracted a notable number of complaints for its discussion on breastfeeding and its benefits, which some felt was misleading.
Viewers also complained about a programme on GB News where they believed a presenter’s comment linked the LGBTQ+ community to paedophiles. Ofcom investigated this complaint and found the programme broke broadcasting rules.
Sky News’s Today with Samantha Washington programme also attracted complaints from viewers who felt a comment by the presenter misrepresented the peaceful nature of the Madleen’s mission to deliver aid to Gaza.
BBC programmes are not included in the list, as the BBC handles its own complaints in the first instance under the terms of its Charter.
The image below shows the ten most complained-about broadcasts in the UK in 2025.
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