These Are The 10 Most Complained-About TV Moments In Ofcom’s History

1. Good Morning Britain, 2021 – 54,495 complaints

Piers Morgan casts doubt on Meghan Markle’s claims she experienced suicidal thoughts while still a senior royal

2. Celebrity Big Brother, 2007 – 45,159 complaints

Jade Goody and fellow housemates’ treatment of Shilpa Shetty sparks racism accusations

3. Celebrity Big Brother, 2018 – 25,327 complaints

Roxanne Pallett wrongly accuses Ryan Thomas of deliberately punching her in the ribs

4. Britain’s Got Talent , 2020– 25,017 complaints

Diversity’s guest performance reflecting on the events of 2020 includes references to Black Lives Matter protests

5. Love Island, 2021 – 24,921 complaints

Former Islander Faye Winter shouts at boyfriend Teddy Soares in the villa.

6. Julia Hartley-Brewer (TalkTV), 2024 – 17,351

Julia Hartley-Brewer suggests Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, is perhaps “not used to women talking”.

7. I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!, 2020 – 11,516

I’m A Celebrity continues to use live animals in its Bushtucker Trials.

8. Dan Wootton Tonight (GB News), 2023 – 8,867

Guest Laurence Fox launches into a misogynistic tirade about a female journalist live on air.

9. Jerry Springer The Opera, 2005 – 8,860

Viewers take issue with the musical’s use of language and depiction of Christian imagery.

10. King Charles III: The Coronation (ITV), 2023 – 8,421

Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh remarks on the disparity between what she described as the “rich diversity of the Abbey” the “terribly white” scene after the Royal Family waved to the public from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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Daters, Meet “Pebbling” ― The Penguin-Based Dating Trend Social Media Loves

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about “tolyamory,” where one or both partners silently permits the infidelity of another without ever explicitly addressing it.

We’ve covered the “orange peel” and “Dorito” dating tests, too. But what’s “pebbling” ― a penguin-inspired dating trend I keep seeing on my For You Page?

A viral TikTok from @jakeyboiarts describes it as giving “someone a bunch of something because you’re thinking about them, for example, a penguin that gives a pebble to another penguin they love.”

The video, which has earned over 640k views as of the time of writing, explained that “pebbling online is like someone who gets videos, memes, whatever, and you send them to someone.”

What’s that got to do with dating?

It doesn’t have to. Another TikTok video by autism-specialising therapist @myautistictherapist suggested that “the way [many autistic people] share love is through giving information” ― “pebbling” facts, as it were.

And that love can be for friends and family as well as partners. “A lot of the autistic people on this app are showing the world love by sharing what they know,” the therapist said; of course, the same goes for anyone else. It’s a little gift for those you love.

But seeing as the Gentoo penguin-based habit it’s based on is used for amorous avian couples, the trend has taken on a romantic hue on social media ― and the pros seem to approve.

Older forms of “pebbling,” like giving someone a gift, bringing them home a snack, or even telling them about a part of your day that made you think of them have existed for as long as love has, Psychology Today points out.

But relationship expert Gigi Engle told Metro.co.uk that the newer, online application is great for couples; “I think it’s the cutest thing ever because memes are a love language these days,” she said.

“Pebbling started with the advent of meme sending as a form of creating a connection with people… It can definitely strengthen a relationship because it’s similar to sending a message saying, ‘I saw this and thought of you,’” the romance expert added.

So… it’s always good?

As with anything else, you can have too much of a cute thing.

App user @jakeyboiarts’ TikTok references opening your phone to “hundreds” of notifications ― that might be overwhelming to some (it’s me, I’m ‘some’).

Engle also told Metro that, “Pebbling does have the potential to set an expectation of communication you’re going to have throughout your relationship, so that’s something to keep in mind.” Your partner may feel hurt if you’re unable to keep up the pebble pace for long.

And in the same article, dating expert Drew Wyllie of Pure dating app, advised that “What is deemed sweet and thoughtful for someone, may be irrelevant for someone else” and suggested pebblers “make a mental note of your partner’s likes and dislikes as well as their daily behaviours so you can make your presents more relevant.”

“Pebbling alone is not going to get you far,” Psychology Today adds, stating that the memes should be a jumping-off point for deeper connections and not your main romantic meeting point.

Still, though, if you are your beau have a sweet meme exchange going, then take it from the Gentoo gents and keep it rolling.

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Nigel Farage Mocked Over Reform UK’s ‘Deeply Unserious’ Plan To Cut Taxes And Raise Spending

Reform UK’s plans to cut taxes while also massively increasing public spending has been branded “deeply unserious” as the party unveiled its general election “contract” with voters.

The document – which party leader Nigel Farage refused to call a manifesto – was launched as the right-wing party threatens to torpedo any lingering chance the Tories had of staying in power.

It included plans to boost public spending by £141 billion a year – many times more than either Labour or the Conservatives have proposed – while at the same time cutting taxes by £70 billion.

Other pledges include scrapping the UK’s net zero commitments, pulling the country out of the European Convention on Human Rights and freezing “non-essential” immigration.

But at the launch of the 26-page document in Merthyr Tydfil, Farage endured a rough ride from sceptical political journalists who queried.

The BBC’s Alex Forsyth said: “You’ve talked about the costings, you’ve talked about the spendings, but some of the stuff in here – a freeze on immigration, NHS waiting lists down to zero, more police officers.

“You accuse other parties of broken promises, but isn’t this a list of unrealistic promises – wish-list rather than a serious plan? Aren’t you doing what you accuse others of, which is chucking out a load of things which sound popular in the hope you get votes, that you never plan to deliver on?”

Farage replied: “It is a promise that this is what we’re going to campaign for over the course of the next five years.”

He said that Reform UK would not win the election, but would be “a voice of opposition to Labour” in the Commons.

“We’ve laid out very clearly where we stand philosophically, ideologically, on a number of things and this is what we’re going to fight for,” Farage added. “I see no inconsistency with that whatsoever.”

Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates told Farage: “In your contract, your proposing to spend an extra £141 billion every year. That’s about 30 times the amount that Labour say they’re going to spend, 10 times the amount of the Tories and about three times what Liz Truss spent.

“You did say you weren’t going to win the next election, but the scale of this – it’s deeply unserious, isn’t it?”

Farage replied: “That’s right, it’s radical, it’s fresh thinking, it’s outside the box, it’s not what you’re going to get with the current Labour and Conservative parties, who are virtually indistinguishable from each other.

“Is this radical, fresh thinking on economics? Yes. Is it radical, fresh thinking on constitutional change? Yes. Is it very radical change on the way our education system is currently bringing up our young children? Yes.

“Britain is broken, Britain needs reform. That’s what we’re here for, that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re unashamedly radical – we want change.”

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Jennifer Lopez Posts Father’s Day Tribute To Ben Affleck Amid Split Rumors

Jennifer Lopez wished her husband, Ben Affleck, a happy Father’s Day on Sunday with a short and sweet message.

“Our hero,” read the post on the Atlas star’s Instagram story, alongside a white heart emoji. “Happy Father’s Day.”

The backdrop of J-Lo’s post was a black-and-white image of Ben, apparently from his 2001 film Pearl Harbor.

Following this, Jen shared a black-and-white photo of her own father, alongside the message: “Happy Father’s Day Daddy.”

Ben and Jennifer are both parents to children from their previous marriages to Jennifer Garner and Marc Anthony, respectively.

Jen’s post comes amid speculation over the state of Jen’s marriage to the Air actor, and reports they are selling the $61 million (around £48 million) home they bought last year.

The Golden Globe nominee recently cancelled her This Is Me… Live summer tour, with the event’s promoters saying at the time that the singer was taking time off to be with her “children, family and close friends”.

“I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary,” she wrote in a statement about the decision last month.

“I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time.”

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez first dated more than 20 years ago
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez first dated more than 20 years ago

Lawrence Lucier via Getty Images

Jennifer and Ben married two years ago, rekindling their high-profile romance after calling off their first engagement in 2004.

Back in February, Jen released her ninth album This Is Me… Now, which featured a second part to her 2002 track Dear Ben, written about the Oscar winner, which featured on the similarly-named This Is Me… Then.

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Kate Middleton And Prince William Celebrate Father’s Day With Sweet New Photo

The picture showed William and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis standing with their backs turned to the camera, looking out at the beach.

“We love you, Papa,” the caption read. “Happy Father’s Day 💕 G, C & L.”

The photo was taken by the Princess of Wales earlier this year.

In addition to the photo of William and his children, the future king also shared a photo for his dad, King Charles.

“Happy Father’s Day, Pa” the caption said, which William signed “W.”

Kate revealed on Friday that she was attending the celebrations this weekend in a deeply personal message about her chemotherapy treatments.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she said in her message. “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting.”

“But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well. My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months,” Kate went on, adding that she is “taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.”

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‘Admission Of Defeat’: Laura Kuenssberg Calls Out ‘Desperate’ Tory Campaign Tactics

Laura Kuenssberg laid into transport secretary Mark Harper on Sunday and said the Conservatives’ campaign tactics are “desperate”.

The Tories have been trailing in the polls for weeks now – YouGov even put them in third place behind both Labour and Reform on Thursday.

The Conservatives have responded by telling voters supporting any party other than them is the same as giving Labour a “blank cheque” for a huge majority.

So, on her show, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the presenter said: “The message shifting somewhat in the last few days, not so much necessarily to say, ‘let’s win this,’ but to say ‘you should worry about a big Labour majority to stop the other side romping home’.”

She showed viewers one of the Tories’ more recent social media adverts, which predicts a Labour victory with 490 seats.

Kuenssberg showing Harper the Tories' own attack ad, which gives 57 seats.
Kuenssberg showing Harper the Tories’ own attack ad, which gives 57 seats.

“You seem to be resorting to just spooking people into some kind of massive majority.

“Isn’t that an admission of defeat, when as you said, not a single vote has been cast, apart from a few postal votes?” the BBC presenter asked.

The minister replied: “It’s not, it’s simply doing what you did before with me, just to point to the polls.

“All we’re doing is if you look at the polls, and if people voted the way the polls are suggesting, that’s what you’d get.

“And we’re saying to people is that what you want? And actually I don’t think it is what people want.”

He claimed the Tories are still fighting for every vote, and there’s still plenty of undecided voters.

According to research from consultancy firm More in Common, about 15% of voters are still undecided.

Kuenssberg hit back: “Isn’t that exactly the point?

“There are still millions of people in this country, probably many of them watching this morning, who haven’t decided what they’re going to do yet, and they’re hearing from you, is not ‘hey here’s our positive vision’.

“What they’re hearing is, ‘oh well you can’t give the other side everything they want so stick with us.’

“Isn’t that something that sounds a bit desperate?”

“Not really,” Harper said, and claimed broadcasters often talk about polls.

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Support For Tories Is ‘At Its Lowest Ever In British Polling History,’ Elections Guru Says

Public support for the Conservatives have fallen to a historic low in polling history, John Curtice said today.

The famous pollster told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “Standing at just 20%, Conservative support is now at its lowest ever in British polling history.

“Mr Sunak, whose own personal ratings have clearly fallen, must be beginning to doubt his decision to call the election early.”

He added that a eight-point lead over Reform last week has fallen to just a four-point.

But Curtice also noticed that Labour are “being challenged by the Greens and the Lib Dems”, and support has fallen by two points – to 41%, on average.

His remarks came after another wave of polls predicted a pretty bleak result for the Conservatives when the public go to the ballot box.

A Savanta survey of 2,045 adults for The Sunday Telegraph found the party were at the lowest point since the final days of Theresa May’s time in office in early 2019, having dropped down four points to just 21%.

The same poll, conducted between 12-14 June and released on Saturday, showed Reform UK had climbed up three points to 13%.

Political research director at Savanta, Chris Hopkins, said it showed “nothing short of electoral extinction for the Conservative Party”.

“The hopes of Conservative candidates are being shot to pieces by poll after poll showing the Conservative Party in increasingly dire straits – and we’re only halfway through the campaign,” he said.

“There’s a real sense that things could still get worse for the Conservatives, and with postal votes about to drop through millions of letterboxes, time is already close to running out for Rishi Sunak.”

It comes after a separate Survation poll for Best for Britain, published in The Sunday Times, suggested the Conservatives would secure only 72 seats in the next parliament.

It predicted Labour would win 456, meaning the party would win a stomping 262 majority, the Liberal Democrats 56 seats, Reform seven and the Greens one.

Survation – which had polled 22,000 adults between 31 May and 13 June – showed the vote share would have halved from 44% in 2 019 to 24%.

Meanwhile, YouGov poll released last Thursday caused a huge stir within Westminster as it put Reform ahead of the Conservatives for the first time.

Nigel Farage’s populist party was on 19% of the vote while the Tories were on 18%, prompting his party to position themselves as the “opposition to Labour”.

Rishi Sunak downplayed this poll on Friday.

Speaking to journalists from the G7 summit in Italy, he said: “We are only halfway through this election, so I’m still fighting very hard for every vote.”

He also pledged to stay in parliament as an MP even if the Conservatives lose the election.

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King Charles Releases Message About Kate Middleton’s Next Public Appearance

King Charles released a message after Kate Middleton confirmed that she will attend Trooping the Colour this weekend, marking her first public appearance since December 2023.

“His Majesty is delighted that The Princess is able to attend tomorrow’s events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told People magazine Friday.

The event, which is the official celebration for the monarch’s birthday, will be held on Saturday, June 15. Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, will be in attendance, alongside Queen Camilla.

The Princess of Wales on Friday issued a deeply personal update on her journey with cancer, and also confirmed her attendance at the military parade.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting,” Kate said. “But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

The royal added that her “treatment is ongoing” and will continue “for a few more months.”

A new photo of the Princess of Wales, taken by photographer Matt Porteous on the grounds of Windsor Castle earlier this week.
A new photo of the Princess of Wales, taken by photographer Matt Porteous on the grounds of Windsor Castle earlier this week.

The Prince and Princess of Wales/Matt Porteous

“On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” Kate said, adding that she is “learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.”

Trooping the Colour usually includes a carriage procession for members of the royal family, as well as a balcony appearance to wave to the crowds from Buckingham Palace.

The Princess of Wales is expected to ride in a carriage alongside her three children ― Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis ― and also make a balcony appearance.

The Wales family and King Charles III watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023, in London, England.
The Wales family and King Charles III watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023, in London, England.

Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images

On Saturday, Kate issued an apology for missing a rehearsal for the annual military parade.

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I Just Learned How Much Water Italians Use To Cook Pasta, And I Have Been Doing It Wrong

These days, I’m a great cook, but until maybe around 5-10 years ago, I was a bad cook who could throw together a pasta dish no problem. If there’s one thing I’ve always been able to do, it’s fire up a pasta dinner.

It’s simple, right? Bit of water, boil it, put some olive oil in, put some pasta in and cook for around 12 minutes until it’s soft, done. Right?!

Well, the fact that I’ve never been to Italy has never been quite as evident as when I recently learned that actually, no, my process is all wrong and I’ve been serving up what I can only describe as an offence to Italians and food-lovers alike.

For starters, did you know there’s a real science to how much water you should use to boil pasta and it isn’t just measured on vibes alone?

How to cook pasta the Italian way

According to the Italian cuisine experts at Eataly, you should use about 4 pints of water for every 450g of pasta. They added: “In general, the more pasta you are cooking, the more water you should use to prevent the pasta from clumping up too much in the pot.”

Additionally, you shouldn’t boil water before adding it to the pasta. Which I definitely wasn’t doing. Ahem.

The experts said: “While warm or hot water will boil faster, it may contain more dissolved minerals from your pipes, giving the water – and anything boiled in it–- a slightly metallic taste.”

As for the hotly-debated subject of adding salt or oil to the water, the experts recommend adding 1-2 teaspoons to the water once it’s boiled. As for adding oil? That’s a big no-no.

Eataly said: “You should never add olive oil to the water or to the pasta after draining. While it might help the pasta strands from sticking to each other, olive oil will also block other sauces from sticking to the pasta.”

Lesson learned.

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The Strange Reason Behind Why Pilots Are Almost Always Clean-Shaven

Have you ever wondered why pilots don’t tend to have beards? Well, me neither, but when you think about it, have you ever seen a pilot sporting a big bushy beard?

Weird, right?

It’ll differ from airline to airline but for the UK’s biggest airline, British Airways, this is the rule pertaining to hair: “Men’s hair must meet a conventional style which is appropriate for a professional environment; shaven or sculptured styles and long hair are not permitted.

“Dyed hair must be of a natural colour for both men and women.”

Of course, this is in part due to appearance, especially on an airline as prestigious as British Airways but according to experts, it’s also a crucial matter of safety.

Why pilots do not tend to have beards

According to Wayman Aviation Academy, the most crucial thing on airlines is passenger and staff safety, which isn’t all that surprising.

What is surprising, though, is that beards can actually compromise the safety of pilots in the instance of an emergency.

Wayman Aviation explained: “In emergency situations, pilots must don oxygen masks quickly and efficiently. Facial hair can disrupt the tight seal necessary between the mask and the face, potentially compromising the flow of oxygen.

“This is critical at high altitudes where oxygen levels are low. Ensuring a proper seal can be the difference between life and death, making the clean-shaven rule a non-negotiable aspect of airline safety protocols.”

Additionally, in a 1987 safety review of masks and facial hair found that facial hair really can impact the efficacy of masks.

The report read: “The data resulting from these tests indicated that decrement in performance does occur when facial hair is present along the sealing surface of crew oxygen masks.

“This decrement is proportional to the amount of facial hair present, the type mask worn, the suspension system associated with the mask, and the exercise level to which the individual is subjected.”

It’s probably not worth it, to be honest.

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