It has been a stormy year for British television, and Love Island is right at the center of the storm. The popular ITV reality show has officially been named the most complained-about TV program of 2025. According to new data released by the media watchdog Ofcom, the dating series received more complaints than any other show this year.
The report reveals that viewers were very unhappy with what they saw in the villa. In total, the 2025 series received a massive 14,121 complaints. This means that roughly three out of every ten complaints sent to Ofcom this year were about Love Island . This is a huge increase compared to previous years, showing that fans are becoming less tolerant of bad behavior on screen.
Bullying Allegations Take Center Stage
The main reason for the anger this year was the treatment of specific contestants. The summer series, in particular, caused a lot of upset. The single most complained-about episode of the entire year was broadcast on July 24. It received 3,547 complaints in just one day.
Viewers contacted Ofcom in droves because they felt protester Shakira Khan was being bullied by other islanders. Social media was filled with posts from fans who were worried about her well-being.
The drama didn’t stop there. Just two days earlier, on July 22, another episode received over 2,500 complaints. This time, the anger was about the return of former challenger Megan Forte Clarke and further allegations of bullying in the villa. Viewers also criticized the behavior of islander Blu Chegini for the way he spoke to fellow contestant Toni Laites. Many fans felt the show’s producers should have stepped in sooner to stop the arguments from getting too personal.
All Stars Spin-Off Adds to the Drama
It wasn’t just the summer series that caused problems. Earlier in the year, Love Island: All Stars also found itself in hot water. In February, the spin-off show brought back famous faces from the past, but it also brought back the drama.
An episode that aired on February 12 received 1,240 complaints. The trouble started during a heated argument between Elma Pazar and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu. Fans felt the clash crossed the line from entertainment into bullying. This added to the feeling that 2025 was the year viewers finally said “enough is enough” when it comes to toxic arguments on TV.
What Other Shows Made the List?
While Love Island took the top spot by a large margin, it was not the only show to upset viewers in 2025.
- Vanessa: The chat show on Channel 5 came in high on the list. It received nearly 2,000 complaints for an episode on June 10. Viewers were angry about a discussion on breastfeeding, which many people felt was misleading and unfair.
- Celebrity Big Brother: The reality show returned with its own controversies. One episode in April received over 1,000 complaints due to an offensive comment made by actor Mickey Rourke to influence JoJo Siwa.
- The Brit Awards: Even music awards were not safe. The 2025 ceremony received over 900 complaints, mostly focused on a performance by singer Sabrina Carpenter that some viewers found too risky for prime time.
What Happens Next?
Despite the high number of complaints, Ofcom has stated that they will not be launching a formal investigation into Love Island this time. The watchdog explained that while the scenes were uncomfortable, the negative behavior was not shown in a positive light.
However, these numbers send a clear message to ITV. The audience is still watching, but they are watching closely. As we look toward 2026, producers may need to think carefully about how they handle conflict in the villa. Viewers still want drama, but they clearly do not want to see bullying.
