Big Brother fans say complaining to Ofcom will ruin its return

Twitter users have hit out at ‘snowflakes’ as they begged viewers for ‘no more Ofcom complaints’ when Big Brother returns to screens next year. 

Fans on social media have voiced their disdain for what they anticipate to be a complaint-fuelled comeback for the dramatic reality TV show. 

The original juggernaut’s new UK home has been announced as ITV2 and ITVX, with a series set to air next year.

in 2018, Roxanne Pallett sparked outrage among Celebrity Big Brother viewers when she falsely accused Ryan Thomas of ‘punching’ her, despite pictures from the incident implying that it was just a gentle tap

Following a recent drama-fuelled Love Island series – which had Ofcom busy- with the regulator at one point receiving 3,617 complaints from viewers in just one week – audiences are now left speculating if the fiery Big Brother is  ‘even gonna last’.

The original version saw complaints from audiences pile in over allegations of racism and bullying.

Its Celebrity edition produced the most complained-about TV programme of the decade in 2018 when Ryan Thomas was wrongly accused by Roxanne Pallett of ‘punching’ her.

Big Brother first aired on UK screens in 2000 when it launched on Channel 4.

Infamous instances include explosive rows between Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and the late Jade Goody

Infamous instances include explosive rows between Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and the late Jade Goody

Jade called the actress 'Shilpa Poppadom' and mocked her for bleaching her facial hair

Jade called the actress ‘Shilpa Poppadom’ and mocked her for bleaching her facial hair

One of the world’s most successful reality television franchises, it first hit screens in the Netherlands in 1999 and more than 500 series of the show have aired around the world in more than 64 countries and regions.

In the UK, Big Brother first aired on Channel 4 and ran for a total of 11 series, while there were seven series of Celebrity Big Brother and a final special edition called Ultimate Big Brother.

It then moved to Channel 5 for a further eight series, with an additional 15 celebrity seasons, before going on hiatus in 2018.

Twitter users have hit out at 'snowflakes' as they begged viewers for 'no more Ofcom complaints' when Big Brother returns to screens

Twitter users have hit out at ‘snowflakes’ as they begged viewers for ‘no more Ofcom complaints’ when Big Brother returns to screens

Infamous instances include explosive rows between Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty  and the late Jade Goody.

While on Celebrity Big Brother back in 2007, Jade, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O’Meara were accused of being racist towards the actress. 

Jade called the actress ‘Shilpa Poppadom’ and mocked her for bleaching her facial hair.

It seems social media users are now worried the backlash doesn't 'ruin Big Brother' as viewers claim they 'want CHAOS'

It seems social media users are now worried the backlash doesn’t ‘ruin Big Brother’ as viewers claim they ‘want CHAOS’

Back in 2007, Ofcom received more than 44,500 complaints from the public – a record at the time.

Such was the scandal at the time that although Shilpa did not lodge an official complaint about racist behaviour with Big Brother, her allegations compelled police to investigate the possible classification of her treatment as ‘racial hatred’.

Elsewhere in 2018, Roxanne Pallett sparked outrage among Celebrity Big Brother viewers when she falsely accused Ryan Thomas of ‘punching’ her, despite pictures from the incident implying that it was just a gentle tap.

However, others argued that 'Big Brother won't be Big Brother if they don't run up the Ofcom complaints'

However, others argued that ‘Big Brother won’t be Big Brother if they don’t run up the Ofcom complaints’

According to Ofcom figures, the Channel 5 series sparked 25,327 complaints from outraged viewers after the ‘punch-gate’ episode. 

And it seems social media users are now worried the backlash doesn’t ‘ruin Big Brother’ as viewers claim they ‘want CHAOS’.

One tweet read: ‘Big brother better break record with Ofcom complaints or I’m not watching.’

‘Big Brother gonna be pointless in this sensitive era,’ another added.

A third penned: ‘Big Brother coming back is ace but it’s just not going to be the same because of all the Karen’s and snowflakes and their Ofcom complaints’.

However, others argued that ‘Big Brother won’t be Big Brother if they don’t run up the  Ofcom complaints’. 

Another remarked: ‘Please…I only got to know about OFCOM because of Big Brother.’

The programme, which was seen as a ground-breaking social experiment when it first aired in 2000. Jade Goody pictured n the show in 2007

The programme, which was seen as a ground-breaking social experiment when it first aired in 2000. Jade Goody pictured n the show in 2007

‘Big Brother better break records with Ofcom complaints or I’m not watching,’ one wrote.

Another tweet defended the regulator.

‘This running joke ab everyone ruining Big Brother via Ofcom is genuinely funny to me bc all it tells me is that none of you were there during the Roxanne Pallett saga ’18 or the Shilpa Shetty row of ’07, where Ofcom was very much necessary,’ it read. ‘It doesn’t ruin, it protects.’

The programme, which was seen as a ground-breaking social experiment when it first aired in 2000, was initially a roaring success, with the final of the first series bringing in 9.45million viewers but it was axed in September 2018 after 18 years on air across both Channel 4 and Channel 5.

It averaged at 5.8million viewers an episode by its third season – but figures dropped to just 2.9million an episode in 2009 thanks to competitors inspired by the very shows it spawned, such as The Only Way Is Essex.

Its move from Channel 4 to Channel 5 saw the show hit an all-time low, with viewership dropping to 1.2million in its last season with the broadcaster.

Celebrity Big Brother also suffered a blow to its viewership as early as season six, which followed the race row of season five.

Average viewership per episode dropped from 4.6million to 3.1million by season six.

As 2010 loomed, the public began switching off and over to The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.

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