Britain's television watchdog, Ofcom, has released its official list of the most complained-about TV moments for 2025, and the results paint a stark picture for broadcaster ITV. The data reveals that viewers lodged a significant number of formal objections about content they found concerning, with ITV channels and shows featuring disproportionately at the top of the rankings.
Love Island Controversy Tops the Charts
The list is overwhelmingly dominated by ITV2's reality dating show, Love Island. The single most complained-about broadcast was the Love Island episode aired on July 24, 2025, which attracted a staggering 3,547 complaints to Ofcom. The primary reason cited by viewers was alleged bullying behaviour directed towards contestant Shakira Khan.
Shakira Khan, a 23-year-old original islander who eventually finished as a runner-up with partner Harry Cooksley, was at the centre of a running controversy. This theme continued in the second and third most-complained-about moments, also from Love Island. The episode from July 22 generated 2,509 complaints, relating both to the alleged treatment of Shakira and the return of dumped islander Megan Forte Clarke. The July 23 episode followed closely with 2,002 complaints for similar reasons.
Another Love Island episode, from July 25, also made the list in seventh place with 1,296 complaints. These were again linked to alleged bullying of Shakira Khan, alongside concerns about how contestant Blu Chegini spoke to fellow islander Toni Laites. An episode of Love Island: All Stars from February 12 placed eighth with 1,240 complaints, also due to alleged bullying behaviour.
Celebrity Big Brother and News Broadcasts Draw Ire
ITV's Celebrity Big Brother also featured prominently. The April 9 episode landed in ninth position with 1,008 complaints. This was specifically due to comments made by Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke to fellow housemate Jojo Siwa. Rourke was later removed from the ITV house after a foul-mouthed rant during an altercation with Love Island's Chris Hughes, and for using inappropriate sexual language that reduced contestant Ella Rae Wise to tears.
The list was not exclusively filled with entertainment shows, however. News programming also sparked significant viewer backlash. In fourth place was Channel 5's Vanessa Feltz show from June 10, which received 1,866 complaints. GB News' Headliners on January 22 took fifth place with 1,391 complaints, while Sky News' Today with Samantha Washington on June 7 placed sixth with 1,302 complaints.
Rounding out the top ten was the BRIT Awards ceremony broadcast on ITV on March 1. It accrued 938 complaints, primarily focused on Sabrina Carpenter’s opening dance routine and the outfit worn by performer Charli XCX.
Emmerdale Storyline Prompts Separate Outcry
In a related development, Ofcom also confirmed it had received a separate wave of complaints concerning ITV's Emmerdale. A harrowing county lines storyline, which involved long-standing character April Windsor being manipulated into drug dealing and child prostitution, prompted significant viewer distress.
The episode aired on December 4, 2024, led to 297 complaints being submitted to the regulator. This followed a further 59 complaints about an instalment broadcast just two days earlier. An Ofcom spokesperson stated that the majority of these complaints related to the disturbing Celia and Ray storyline being shown before the 9pm watershed.
The annual list underscores the powerful reaction viewers have to content they perceive as harmful or inappropriate, with ITV's programming drawing the most intense scrutiny from the British public in 2025.
