10 British TV moments that shocked the nation: From disastrous interviews to celeb feuds

British television has long been a platform that has provided people with entertainment worldwide. It has captivating stories, influential personalities, and unforgettable moments. From shocking revelations and high-profile interviews to on-air feuds and controversial exits, these incidents have often tested the limits of public tolerance and broadcasting standards.

Remember Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey?

While many of these unforgettable moments are loved by people, some broadcasts also spark intense debate, public backlash, and sometimes even official investigations. In this article, we combine a list of some of the most controversial moments in British TV.

Phillip Schofield’s departure from ITV

Phillip Schofield’s departure from ITV in May 2023 was one of the biggest controversies for the channel. After two decades as a co-host on This Morning, Schofield resigned following revelations of an affair with a much younger colleague, reports The Express. He initially kept it hidden from everyone including his co-host Holly Willoughby. However, the scandal came to light eventually and everyone including ITV bosses were held responsible by the public.

ITV faced criticism for its handling of the situation, prompting the network to launch an external investigation to determine if a ‘toxic culture’ existed on the show. Meanwhile, Schofield faced a major career setback until his recent return to TV screens with the new Channel 5 series CastAway. He also admitted in an interview that the relentless public scrutiny had taken a toll on his mental health. He labelled the affair as ‘unwise not illegal.’

Charles Ingram’s cheating scandal on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

The infamous Charles Ingram cheating scandal on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2001 remains one of British television's most notorious controversies. Charles Ingram, a British Army major, managed to answer all the questions correctly to win the £1 million prize. This happened despite him having a first day on the show where he had used two out of three of his lifelines. According to The Standard, when filming wrapped on Ingram’s day one, the production staff weren’t convinced he would make it far. However, on the next day, he became the third person to hit the £1 million jackpot.

Things took a darker turn when he and his wife along with fellow contestant Tecwen Whittock were accused of cheating. Reportedly, on examining the tape of the show it was found that every time Ingram gave a right answer, Whittock coughed. Chris Tarrant, who was the host of the show at that time, said:

If I thought there was anything wrong, I certainly would not have signed [the cheque]. They seemed as normal as people who have just won a million pounds would be in this situation.

The prize money was taken from them shortly after they won the show because of the suspicions, and in 2003 they were all found guilty of cheating.

Teletubbies and homosexuality

Surprisingly, a beloved kids show like Teletubbies has also gone through a few controversies. In the late 90s Reverend Jerry Falwell, a former spokesman for America's Moral Majority, denounced the show. He claimed that the purple character on the show, Tinky Winky, was a ‘gay role model’ and not ideal for kids. In an attempt to support his claims he suggested that Tinky Winky is purple in colour - the gay-pride colour, reports BBC. He further added that the triangular aerial on his head is shaped like a gay pride symbol and his red magic bag was shaped like a handbag. Expressing concerns over these ‘subtle depictions,’ he said:

As a Christian, I feel that role-modelling the gay lifestyle is damaging to the moral lives of children.

In response, the show’s creators clarified that Tinky Winky’s characteristics had no hidden meaning and that the character was simply a fun, child-friendly figure. A BBC spokeswoman said:

This is not the first time that people have read symbolism into a children's TV programme and it probably won't be the last. As far as we are concerned Tinky Winky is simply a sweet, technological baby with a magic bag.

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's suspension

In 2008, Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand faced suspension from the BBC following a controversial prank on The Russell Brand Show. During the broadcast, the pair left offensive voicemails on the answering machine of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. The duo made lewd suggestions about his granddaughter that caused intense public backlash, reports The Guardian. The-then BBC director general, Mark Thompson suspended the two until he returned from his vacation and looked into the situation. In a statement issuing an apology, he said:

BBC audiences accept that, in comedy, performers attempt to push the line of taste. However, this is not a marginal case. It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view.

Piers Morgan’s comments on Meghan Markle

There is no love lost between Piers Morgan and Meghan Markle. Piers Morgan has maintained a longstanding and vocal criticism of Meghan. He has maintained his stance on the Duchess despite him having to leave GMB because of it. In 2021, after Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, Morgan questioned the truthfulness behind Meghan’s mental health struggles. In the interview, the mum-of-two revealed that she had suicidal thoughts. Morgan questioned the credibility of her claims and said:

Who did you go to? What did they say to you? I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she said, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe it if she read me a weather report.

According to Women&Home, the comment caused over 57,000 complaints to Ofcom. However, Morgan was eventually given a clean cheat in the case.

Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview

Not only is Prince Andrew’s BBC’s Newsnight interview one of the most controversial moments on British TV, but also one for the Royal Family. Interviewed by Emily Maitlis, Andrew attempted to address allegations linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, his explanations were met with intense criticism, reports Town & Country.

Andrew denied recalling any encounters with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of abusing her when she was a teenager, despite a photograph showing the two together. He claimed that on the night of the accused assault, he was at a Pizza Express with his daughter. To answer claims that Giuffre said he was sweating, Andrew claimed he had a medical condition that didn’t allow him to sweat - a defence that has been widely ridiculed as implausible. The interview not only intensified public backlash but also led to significant consequences for Andrew. Days after the broadcast, he stepped back from public duties.

Princess Diana’s Panorama interview

Another shocking moment for both British royalty and TV happened in 1995 when Princess Diana famously commented, ‘there were three of us in the marriage’—referencing Charles and Camilla’s affair. Broadcast to an audience of over 23 million, Diana openly discussed the challenges within her marriage to Prince Charles in an interview with BBC’s Martin Bashir, reports People Magazine. She described her struggles with postnatal depression, self-harm, and bulimia. Contrary to the Royal Family protocol of remaining reserved on personal matters, Diana openly discussed her mental health battles and marital issues.

It was later revealed that Bashir used deceitful means, by forging documents and manipulating Diana’s trust, to obtain that interview. BBC was forced to issue an apology for the same.

Loose Women’s confrontation with Kim Woodburn

Kim Woodburn and Loose Women star Coleen Nolan had a long-standing feud from their time on Celebrity Big Brother. In August 2018, Woodburn appeared on the show hoping to reconcile with Nolan. The discussion turned quickly hostile and Woodburn accused Nolan of bullying, reports whattowatch.

She felt ambushed by the other panellists as they challenged her past behaviour. The section eventually ended with Woodburn storming off the set after the heated emotional incident. The episode generated over 3,000 complaints to Ofcom. Viewers criticised the Loose Women team as they felt that Woodburn had been unfairly targeted and mocked. They described the show’s tone as overly confrontational and insensitive to Woodburn’s emotional state.

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes exit from This Morning

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes’ exit from the show is still debated to this day. After 15 years of being the Friday hosts and filling in for the main hosts during holidays, they exited from This Morning in 2021. Their departure was reportedly due to a shift in ITV’s programming. Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary took over their Friday roles as part of a move to refresh the lineup, as per Hello!.

After leaving This Morning, Eamonn transitioned to a role at GB News where he returned to his roots in hard news broadcasting. Ruth, however, remained with ITV, continuing to appear on Loose Women and occasionally on This Morning. Since then, Holmes has been vocal about why he was ‘fired’ from the show.

Punchgate on Celebrity Big Brother

According to Heart, Roxanne Pallett’s Celebrity Big Brother 'punchgate' was the most complained about TV story of the decade. In 2018, Pallett accused fellow housemate Ryan Thomas of ‘assaulting’ her on the show after he playfully jabbed her during a casual exchange. She claimed that Thomas punched her deliberately and expressed feeling ‘unsafe.’ However, the footage of the incident revealed that it was a harmless playfight and stirred a widespread public backlash against Pallett.

Her accusations led to a whopping 25,000 complaints to Ofcom, making her reputation suffer immensely. Following intense criticism, Pallett issued a public apology and admitted to misinterpreting the event. She tried to explain what happened while on Channel 5, saying:

Everything in that house becomes so heightened, a look, a comment, an action.

The only thing I can explain it with is, in the moment it felt worse than it was. I can't prove a feeling.

She then revealed that she regretting choosing the word 'deliberately' when she described the incident.

She later stepped back from public life and moved to the US while Thomas won the series and decided to let go of the incident.

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Sources used:

The Express: This Morning's most controversial moments from ‘queue-gate’ to ‘toxic’ feuds

The Standard: Quiz: The true story behind ITV’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? cheating drama

BBC: Gay Tinky Winky bad for children

The Guardian: Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand suspended by BBC

The Guardian: Ofcom clears Piers Morgan over Meghan comments

Women & Home: 32 of the most controversial moments in British TV

Town & Country: Prince Andrew’s Interview About Jeffrey Epstein Was a Disaster

People Magazine: The Biggest Bombshells From Princess Diana's 'Panorama' Interview in 1995

Whattowatch: Loose Women bust-up attracts more than 3,000 Ofcom complaints

Hello!: Ruth Langsford talks Eamonn Holmes's shock exit - and reveals future on This Morning and Loose Women

Heart: Roxanne Pallett CBB 'punchgate' was the most complained about TV story of the decade