Donate SIGN UP

Which TV programmes attract the most complaints

01:00 Mon 16th Jul 2001 |

A.� Last year BBC2's Room 101, in which guest Anne Robinson criticised the Welsh, attracted the single most number of complaints� - 427 in total. Ms Robsinson, who has achieved worldwide fame with her quiz show The Weakest Link, was forced to apologise to the Welsh after her comments.

Comic Relief on BBC 1 and Channel 4's World Wrestling Federation programme were among the other highest ofenders, according to figures from the Broadcasting Standards Commission. Viewers were outraged at the sight of comedian Billy Connolly dancing naked around Piccaddily Circus in London during the BBC's charity programme, Comic Relief. Audiences complained that the Channel 4 wrestling programme encouraged children to be violent.� The programme was later criticised by the commission for using everyday objects such as tables during the wrestling.

Q.� How many complaints do they handle a year

A. The BSC, the body which deals with the public's complaints about sex and violence on the television, said the number of complaints about TV standards is rising - in 2000-2001 it rose by three per cent to 4,920. A third of those were about sex and violence - an increase of two per cent on last year and the highest in the commission's history.

Q.� Which channel usually attracts the most complaints

A.� Last year, Channel 4 attracted 14 per cent of complaints, which were eligible for investigation by the commission. This accounted for nearly a quarter of the cases upheld, the highest for any broadcaster. Only 10 per cent of the complaints against C4 were actually upheld.

Q.� What about children's programmes

A.� There were few complaints against children's TV, but the food and health campaign group Sustain has criticised TV advertising of junk food. It is urging TV watchdogs, such as the commission, to help ban the targeting of children with advertising of unhealthy foods. It claims children's obesity levels are rising because�90 per cent of food products advertised during breaks in cartoons contain large amount of sugar, fat and salt. A study by the group monitored 40 hours of television and 272 commercials shown by ITV on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Food advertisements dominated the schedules, and over 90 per cent were high in sugar or salt. The group says not a single advert was shown promoting fresh fruit and vegetables.

The Advertising Association, which monitors advertising on TV, has previously argued today's children grow up in a commercial world.

For more film and television questions and answers, click here

By Katharine MacColl

Do you have a question about Film, Media & TV?