Love Island is the UK’s most complained about show of 2025, says Ofcom | Love Island

ITV’s Love Island has been a huge success for the broadcaster, but the reality dating show also dominated the unwelcome chart – comprehensively winning the title of most complained about show of the year.

The treatment of Shakira Khan, a contestant who many viewers believe was bullied, was the main issue that ensured the show finished in the top three on the TV production list, sparking the most protests at broadcasting regulator Ofcom.

Episodes on three consecutive days in July topped Ofcom’s list of complaints. It culminated in 3,547 complaints being filed regarding the July 24 edition of the show. More than 2,000 complaints were received in the previous two days.

The vast majority of complaints related to allegations of bullying against Khan, who broke down in tears on several occasions. This came after apparent cliques appeared in the Love Island villa.

Some viewers believed that Khan was subjected to negativity from the other women on the show, as she would often appear alone and be subjected to taunts and eye rolls. Tensions came to a head when she ended her relationship with one islander, Connor, to pursue another, Harry.

Producers also raised tension by showing Khan and another contestant criticizing two other women. Concerns were also raised about her mental health as she appeared to cry frequently.

Despite thousands of complaints, Ofcom ultimately decided not to investigate the show. She said that negativity towards Khan was not celebrated and that viewers of the show – and reality shows in general – expected the types of scenes that were the subject of complaints.

There were further protests from viewers who complained that one of the contestants who left the villa was allowed to return later. However, ITV explained that producers could “re-introduce an islander seen in previous stages of the competition who has previously been evicted”.

The radio also said that participants receive training before arriving at the villa, which includes the need to avoid “patterns of behavior associated with controlling and coercive behaviour.”

In fourth place on the complaint lists was an episode of Vanessa Feltz’s Channel 5 programme, in which fashion designer Karen Millen described mothers who breastfed their babies after six months as “selfish”.

Viewers complained that the item was misleading. Ofcom concluded that the comments “did not raise issues under our rules” and viewers were given medical guidance at the start of the section.

Rounding out the top five was a GB News article from January, in which presenter Josh Howie made a comment linking the LGBTQ+ community to pedophiles. He later said his show was a comedy show and his comment was intended as a “joke about pedophilia in church.”

A subsequent Ofcom investigation found that the program had breached broadcasting rules by including a “deeply offensive remark which was not justified by the context, and does not meet generally accepted standards”.

GB News also apologized this week after a guest wrongly reported that the Duchess of Sussex’s mother, Doria Ragland, had spent time in prison.