TV News

Ofcom has published an end of year review. Ofcom writes:

Over the course of the last year, we received 69,236 complaints about 9,638 cases. That's nearly twice as many complaints as we dealt with in 2022

In 2023, we published 23 Broadcast and On Demand Bulletins which announced 57 new broadcast standards investigations, as well the outcome of 46 investigations. We found a total of 35 programmes in breach of our broadcasting rules and are working to conclude the others as quickly as possible. We also published 15 adjudications on complaints from individuals and organisations that complained to us that they had been treated unfairly and/or had their privacy unwarrantably infringed in TV and radio programmes.

We imposed sanctions on four broadcasters for content breaches, including a £40,000 fine to the Islam channel and £10,000 to Ahlebait TV , both for broadcasting antisemitic content.

We also found GB News in breach of our rules on five occasions after our investigations found it broke our rules that protect audiences from harm twice and our due impartiality rules three times.

Most complained about programmes of 2023

• Dan Wootton Tonight, GB News, 26 September 2023 -- 8,867 complaints

  Viewers objected to the misogynistic comments made by Laurence Fox about journalist Ava Evans.

  Ofcom's investigation of this programme under our rules on offence is ongoing.
   

• King Charles III: The Coronation, ITV1, 6 May 2023 -- 8,421 complaints

  The majority of complaints related to a comment made by actress Adjoa Andoh during the live broadcast, which focused on the 'whiteness' of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

  While we understand some viewers had strong feelings about this comment, after careful consideration we concluded that the comment was a personal observation which was part of a wide-ranging panel discussion which also touched on other diversity-related topics, and which contained a range of viewpoints.
   

• Good Morning Britain, ITV1, 17 October 2023 -- 2,391 complaints

  We carefully assessed complaints about the presenter's line of questioning towards MP Layla Moran.

  We considered his live, unscripted remarks were potentially offensive. However, taking the entire interview into account, and in particular a preceding discussion about Hamas using civilians as human shields, we considered the question sought to explore whether civilians were aware of a potential escalation in hostilities, rather than suggesting that Ms Moran or her family were aware of specific plans for the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. In her response, Ms Moran spoke about her surprise at the scale and sophistication of the attack. In light of this, we will not be pursuing further.
   

• Jeremy Vine, Channel 5, 13 March 2023 -- 2,302 complaints

  We carefully considered complaints from viewers about a discussion on the junior doctors' pay dispute.

  While we recognise that some references about progression timelines and corresponding pay-scales were not strictly accurate, we do not consider that the errors were sufficient to have materially misled viewers so as to cause harm.
   

• Breakfast with Kay Burley, Sky News, 23 November 2023 -- 1,880 complaints

  We carefully considered complaints about the presenter's line of questioning during an interview with Israeli spokesperson, Eylon Levy.

  Taking account of Mr Levy's forceful challenge to the premise of the question about the value of Israeli versus Palestinian lives, and the context of the wider discussion about the terms of the temporary ceasefire, we will not be pursuing further.
   

• Lee Anderson's Real World, GB News, 29 September 2023 -- 1,697 complaints

  Complaints related to Lee Anderson's interview with Suella Braverman, on the grounds that they are both Conservative MPs.

  We published our assessment of this programme which found that it included an appropriately wide range of significant views on immigration and border control which were given due weight.
   

• Breakfast with Kay Burley, Sky News, 10 October 2023 -- 1,640 complaints

  Complainants alleged Kay Burley misrepresented comments made by the Palestinian ambassador.

  We are assessing the complaints, before we decide whether or not to investigate.
   

• Naked Education, Channel 4, 4 April 2023 -- 1,285 complaints

  We understand that some viewers were concerned about this programme, which included pre-watershed nudity.

  In our view, the programme had a clear educational focus, and the young participants reflected positively on their involvement. We also took into account that there were warnings to the audience before the programme aired.
   

• This Morning, ITV, 18 December 2023, 1,092 complaints

  Complaints related to comments made by Vanessa Feltz about coeliac disease.

  We are assessing the complaints, before we decide whether or not to investigate.
   

• Love Island, ITV2, 9 July 2023 -- 992 complaints

  The majority of complaints about this episode related to bullying against Scott.

  We carefully assessed complaints about this series on a range of issues including alleged bullying, homophobia and racism.

  We recognise that emotionally charged or confrontational scenes can upset some viewers. But, in our view, negative behaviour in the villa was not shown in a positive light. We also took into account that the format of this reality show is well-established and viewers would expect to see highs and lows as couples' relationships are tested.

  Viewers also complained about a contestant being voted off and returning to the programme, but this was an editorial decision for the broadcaster.

The Simpsons has retired one of its recurring scenes, saying Homer strangling his son Bart is no longer appropriate because times have changed.

The decision was revealed in the 3rd episode of the long-running show's 35th series, in which Homer indicates he is a changed man

Homer strangling Bart had been a regular feature of the animated comedy sitcom ever since it first aired in 1989. Why you little...., a hapless Homer would often yell if his son had angered him, while squeezing his neck until Bart's eyes could be seen bulging out.

Homer's behaviour was addressed during an earlier episode in series 22, when a therapist attempted to get him to see the error of his ways.

The US morality campaign, Parents TV Council, writes:

The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) calls on HBO to immediately remove Naked Attraction from its streaming platform, Max . The UK-originated program is a game show that features uncensored fully naked contestants who are evaluated from the bottom up and eventually chosen for a date solely based on physical attributes by a single contestant. It was reported that Max added all six seasons of Naked Attraction .

Melissa Henson, vice president of the Parents Television and Media Council said:

Naked Attraction should not exist on the Max streaming platform, and HBO should immediately remove this exploitative, pornographic program. Our research has found that Max has mediocre parental controls, enabling children to access some of the most explicit streaming content on the market. There is no doubt children will be able to easily access Naked Attraction , the purpose of which is to shock and titillate the audience with uncensored and explicit nudity. And in a new low for HBO, the show fully exploits its own participants, somehow convincing them that their exploitation for the purpose of dating is right and good

The fact that HBO quietly added Naked Attraction tells us everything we need to know: HBO is duplicitous. It gives the appearance of a trusted family brand by hosting Harry Potter and Sesame Street , but HBO has now lifted its own veil, revealing that it is and always was a pornography channel.

The board of Warner Bros. Discovery is hereby put on notice: the fact that pornographic Naked Attraction is on the Max platform with parental controls that are weak and inefficient is a major corporate liability. We urgently call on the board to course-correct by removing Naked Attraction and instituting the strongest parental controls by default.

Bluey is a 2018 Australia/UK children's cartoon TV series
Starring David McCormack, Melanie Zanetti and Ninthe van Schie

The slice-of-life adventures of an Australian Blue Heeler Cattle Dog puppy as she has fun with her family and friends in everyday situations.

The beloved Australian show, Bluey has captured hearts around the world. With refreshing takes on parenthood, but, there are also quite a few cuts and banned episodes.

TikToker @world.shaker has compiled a list of changes that Disney+ made in season 3.

• In one episode, Bandit is shown getting hit in a sensitive spot but in the Disney+ version that scene is cut.
• In another scene, Bandit has a conversation about getting a vasectomy but that's gone too.
• Then, there are the episodes that Disney just outright said no to airing. One of the banned episodes features a storyline around flatulence. The episode, titled Family Meeting shows a silent, smelly something pass under Bluey's nose.
• Another controversial episode comes from season 2. In it, Bandit simulates what it's like to give birth--Bingo slides out of a carrier strapped to his chest.