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Viewers and listeners in the UK have long enjoyed a rich heritage of broadcasting and quality programming.

But sometimes you may see something on TV – or hear a programme on radio – which you find offensive or think is harmful.

Every time Ofcom receives a complaint from a viewer or listener, we assess it under the Broadcasting Code to see if it needs further investigation.

The Code sets standards for television and radio shows and broadcasters have to follow these rules.

Broadcasting Code

These rules not only cover harm and offence, but also other areas like impartiality and accuracy, sponsorship and commercial references as well as fairness and privacy.

For example, the Code has rules on what can be screened on TV before the 9pm watershed.

If we find a programme has broken these rules, then it will be found in breach of the Code and Ofcom will publish this decision.

In very serious cases, we will consider further action (e.g. fining a broadcaster).

Broadcast Bulletin

Every fortnight Ofcom publishes its Broadcast Bulletin. This includes the latest decisions about the complaints we’ve received.

If you would like to learn more you can read our current Broadcast Bulletin.

Complaints

It is not possible for us to list every complaint we have received – but here is a list in alphabetical order of those programmes that received more than 10 standards complaints last week (we do not include fairness and privacy complaints in this list).

Report covers complaints received between: Tuesday 26 January 2010 to Monday 1 February 2010

Dancing on Ice	ITV1	Sunday, 31 January, 2010	360
GMTV	ITV1	Thursday, 28 January, 2010	77

Please Note

1. Programmes that attracted fewer than 10 complaints are not recorded on this list.
2. Inclusion or omission of a programme on this list is not indicative that Ofcom is investigating the broadcast.
3. The number of complaints received is not an indication of how serious an issue is.
4. All complaints are assessed against the Broadcasting Code.

Current Investigations

If Ofcom considers that a broadcast raises a potential breach against its codes, it will start an investigation.

Here is an alphabetical list of new investigations launched. This published list is updated weekly.

 

Up to 29 January 2010

Programme	Channel	Transmission Date	Complaint Lodged
Bang Babes	Tease Me	Saturday, 31 October 2009	27 January 2010
Bang Babes	Tease Me 3	Friday, 30/31 October 2009	27 January 2010
Bang Babes	Tease Me	Thursday 5 November 2009	27 January 2010
Bang Babes	Tease Me	Sunday, 15 November 2009	27 January 2010
Bang Babes	Tease Me2	Tuesday, 24 November 2009	27 January 2010
Channel S News	Channel S	Tuesday, 27 October 2009	21 January 2010
GMTV with Lorraine	ITV 1	Various Dates	06 January 2010
Hot Country	Rural TV	Monday, 28 December 2009	29 December 2009
Stabbed with Truth About Knife Crime	Bravo	Tuesday, 12 January 2010	12 January 2010
Steve Penk at Breakfast	The Revolution 96.2 FM	Thursday, 14 January 2010	19 January 2010

 

Up to 22 January 2010

Programme	Channel	Transmission Date	Complaint Lodged
Brighton Beach Patrol	Five	Friday, 30 October 2009	11 January 2010
Have I Got News For You	Dave	Sunday, 27 December 2009	27 December 2009
Various programmes	Zing	Various dates	08 December 2009
Y Byd ar Bedwar	S4C	Tuesday, 23 June 2009	14 December 2009

 

 

Up to 15 January 2010

Programme	Channel	Transmission Date	Complaint Lodged
Advertisements	Smash Hits	Monday, 14 December 2009	13 January 2010
Advertisements	Five	Sunday, 6 December 2009 Sunday, 13 December 2009	13 January 2010
Advertisements	Pop Girl 2	Wednesday, 2 December 2009	03 December 2010
Advertisements	CNX	1 to 15 December 2009	13 January 2010
Advertisements	Boomerang	1 to 15 December 2009	13 January 2010
Advertisements	Cartoon Network	1 to 15 December 2009	13 January 2010
Bang Babes	Tease Me, Tease Me 2 and Tease Me 3	31 October 2009 to 25 November 2009	27 November 2009
Big trouble in Thailand	Bravo	Monday, 14 September 2009 Monday, 21 September 2009 Monday, 28 September 2009 Monday, 5 October 2009 Monday, 12 October 2009	06 December 2009
Breakfast	BBC Radio 5 Live	Thursday, 17 December 2009	17 December 2009
Celtic v Rangers	Sky Sports 3	Sunday, 3 January 2010	05 January 2010
Chris Evans Drivetime show	Radio 2	Wednesday, 16 December 2009	17 December 2009
Club Paradiso Evening Chat	Club Paradiso	Saturday, 19 December 2009	19 December 2009
Dam Hai Tou Entertainment Kar	ARY Digital	Thursday, 3 December 2009	08 December 2009
Saints & Scroungers	BBC1	Tuesday, 18 August 2009	17 November 2009
Sky News	Sky News	Thursday, 17 December 2009	17 December 2009
Sky News	Sky News	Friday, 18 December 2009	18 December 2009
The Ferret	ITV1 Wales	Thursday, 21 May 2009	18 November 2009
Traffic Cops	BBC1	Thursday, 12 November 2009	11 December 2009
Tritio Mattra	Channel i	Monday, 4 December 2009	04 January 2010
Various programmes	B4U Music	Various dates	08 December 2009
0800 Reverse sponsor credits	Nickelodeon	Sunday, 15 November 2009	20 November 2009

 

 

Up to 8 January 2010

Programme	Channel	Transmission Date	Complaint Lodged
Advertisements	Ben TV	Friday, 20 November 2009 Monday, 23 November 2009 Tuesday, 24 November 2009 Wednesday, 25 November 2009 Thursday, 26 November 2009 Friday, 27 November 2009	30 November 2010
Advertisements	Good Food	Monday, 21 December 2009	08 January 2010
Advertisements	STV	Thursday, 17 December 2009 and Sunday 27 December 2009	05 January 2010
Advertisements	Sci-Fi Channel	Sunday, 20 December 2009	06 January 2010
Dispatches: What’s In Your Breakfast	Channel 4	Monday, 26 October 2009	04 December 2009
Subtitling throughout schedule	4Music	January to December 2009	12 January 2010

 

For more information about how Ofcom investigates standards complaints go to http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/standards/standards.pdf, for fairness and privacy complaints go to http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/fairness/fairness.pdf.

It is important to note that an investigation by Ofcom does not necessarily mean the broadcaster has done anything wrong. Not all investigations result in breaches of the Codes being recorded.

• Audience Complaints: 26|01|10 - 01|02|10 [pdf]
• Archive Audience Complaints

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