Overview

• Ofcom rejected further action on all 14,167 complaints lodged about the latest series, including 24 concerning the spin-off show.
• The peak complaint total of 3,549 on July 24 focused on alleged bullying of contestant Shakira Khan.
• Viewers also flagged concerns over mental-health impacts, alleged race and gender discrimination, and producers’ decision to reintroduce a dumped contestant.
• The regulator took into account the show’s established confrontational format and expected emotional highs and lows when deciding against further action.
• ITV declined to comment on the ruling while campaign groups continue to call for stronger duty-of-care measures for contestants.