Was this Big Brother's most controversial series ever? Ableism, fat-shaming and coercive control rows saw series hit by 22,000 Ofcom complaints before 'anti-woke' Rochelle Rackham's surprise win

The 2026 series of Big Brother has finally come to a close, and its proven to be one of the most contentious in the show's 26-year run.Running at eight weeks, it seemed an extended run led to tensions between housemates being more heightened than ever, as the series has become one of the most complained about in reality TV history.In total the show has received over 22,000 complaints to media regulator Ofcom, with a majority relating to Omar El Mayer's 'coercive and controlling behaviour' towards his girlfriend Rhianna Collins. The controversies have done nothing to dampen ratings, with this series exceeding 56m streams - an increase of over 22m streams compared to Big Brother and Big Brother: Late & Live last year.Indeed, the final alone brought in 770,000 viewers, a huge boost on last year's finale which drew in 516,000 overnight viewers.Thursday's final saw housewife Rochelle Rackham crowned the winner after a close public vote, with much of the crowd booing her exit after she beat rival Lucinda Burnett, known as Twinks.The pair clashed on many occasions, with far left housemate Twinks - who identifies as a witch - having opposing views to Rochelle who often rallied against cancel culture and woke behaviour, and said that she 'hates' feminism. With a lengthy list of drama that has led to thousands of Ofcom complaints, this year's Big Brother could go down in history, for all the wrong reasons... Ableism, fat-shaming and coercive control rows saw Big Brother hit by 22,000 Ofcom complaints before 'anti-woke' housewife Rochelle Rackham's won in Thursday's finale The majority of Ofcom complaints were relating to Omar El Mayer's 'coercive and controlling behaviour' towards his girlfriend Rhianna CollinsOmar's 'coercive and controlling' behaviourJewellery designer Omar was the latest housemate to find himself in a romantic entanglement, with him and Rhianna growing close just days after joining the show.But while the pair were declaring their love, cracks between them became so vast, that Omar's treatment of his girlfriend sparked thousands of Ofcom complaints.Omar's behaviour included scolding Rhianna for speaking about their fallout to other housemates, using worrying language such as 'don't talk about me', 'don't cry', 'don't look away from me', 'sort yourself out' and 'fix up'.The series has become the most complained about in ITV history as over 20,000 people have highlighted the problematic scenes in the show. Alongside the Ofcom complaints, Women's Aid called for Omar to be removed from the house after concerning scenes between him and Rhianna aired.Omar was also reprimanded by Big Brother in the Diary Room, as they told him: 'Omar, Big Brother wants to speak to you about some of your language and behaviour in the house. 'Big Brother wants to bring to your attention that at times, it appears that you are dismissing your fellow housemates' feelings and experiences, and not acknowledging the impact such behaviour could have on your fellow housemates and the viewing public.''Some of your language used on more than one occasion and the behaviour you have exhibited could cause offense to your fellow housemates or the viewing public.'Omar responded: 'I fully understand. Just, I've never dismissed a housemate's feelings, in all honesty. If I felt like a housemate was feeling something towards me which was incorrect, I would say it was incorrect.''Not necessarily dismiss it, or tell them they don't deserve a feeling and they don't deserve to feel like that.'He added: 'Let's be honest here. We're not talking about housemates, we're talking about my conversations with me and Rhianna. I've done nothing but look out for her. I've done nothing but try to accommodate her and be there for her and care for her.''At the end of the day, I didn't walk in with any bad intentions or any malice and I didn't attempt to exercise anything malicious towards anyone. Like I said, I've acknowledged my housemate's feelings.'Big Brother then replied: 'Omar, you must always be mindful of the impact your language and behaviour can have on others.'Rhianna and Omar did agree to 'tone down' their romance after their tense exchange, but she stressed that she didn't feel he was being 'controlling towards her.' More than 22,000 viewers have complained about Omar's behaviour, which means it is the most a contestant has ever received on all 21 of the civilian series, including when it was on Channel 4 and 5. It is also the third highest number of complaints for a single incident in Big Brother history, following Jade Goody's racism row (45,000 complaints) and Roxanne Pallett's punch-gate (27,000 complaints). Rochelle's 'ableist' remarks With a record 29 nominations, Rochelle has proven to be one of the most divisive housemates in Big Brother history Among them was a conversation with Charlotte Notts, who lost her limbs after contracting meningitis at the age of three, where she said she was 'scared of people with no limbs'With a record 29 nominations, Rochelle proved to be one of the most divisive housemates in Big Brother history, and many of her comments sparked backlash among viewers.Among them was a conversation with Charlotte Notts, who lost her limbs after contracting meningitis at the age of three, where she said she was 'scared of people with no limbs.'She said: 'Can I tell you something? I feel really ashamed. I have got a bit of a fear... 'Just like, no arm. When I saw you, I was like, 'Oh my god', and I feel so ashamed because now I don't even look at it [now].'Social media was soon flooded with reaction from viewers, with anger over her 'disgusting and outrageous' comments, having seen Charlotte discuss the exchange with fellow housemate Lynx Noumey. Following Rochelle's confession, Charlotte relayed the conversation to fellow housemates, saying: 'She was like 'I've always had a fear of people with no limbs'. And she was like 'when I saw you like, I was very, I was scared'.'Lynx replied: 'What the fk is that?', before Charlotte continued: 'She was like 'when I came in I was quite scared'.' before Lynx said: 'Oh Rochelle.' Chelsey Ammari then said: 'I think she needs to learn to shut her mouth, a bit.'Keen to resolve the scenario, Rhianna then said: 'Yeah. Now I think it's just a bit much. I think it's best if I say something' and went on to confront Rochelle. Yasmin's 'fat-shaming' ordeal Rochelle was reprimanded by Big Brother for her 'language' after appearing to mock plus-sized housemate Yasmin's weightRochelle's ill-timed remarks continued, as later in the series she was reprimanded by Big Brother for her 'language' after appearing to mock plus-sized housemate Yasmin's weight.In what began as a light-hearted exchange, Rochelle suggested that Yasmin, who works as a teacher, would 'eat all the children's packed lunches' behind their backs.She went on to do an impression of Yasmin eating the children's food whilst denying involvement, and later made another comment staying that her bed was 'going'.Yasmin laughed off the remarks at the time, but later told her housemates that Rochelle kept calling her 'fat.'The comments sparked huge backlash from viewers, who said: 'No that was so uncalled for omfg;''What's her issue with plus size women?; Rochelle is so mean;''Rochelle needs to wind it down now; One joke is funny but constantly going on is just too much.'Big Brother called Rochelle into the Diary Room the following day and warned her comments to Yasmin could 'offend' her housemates and viewers, and said she was not allowed to discuss it again. Micro-aggression row Earlier in the series, Rochelle was involved in a dispute with Johanne and Pauline, over comments the pair made about their experiences with micro-aggressionsEarlier in the series, Rochelle was involved in a dispute with Johanne Cade and Pauline Adeyemo, over comments the pair made about their experiences with micro-aggressions.In the conversation, Johanne referenced Rochelle as someone she felt whose conduct could be seen as microaggressive.She said: 'My situation with Rochelle felt like a microaggression because I feel like if anybody else was over there heating up their food, say Rhianna, would [Rochelle] have reacted like that? 'And that's how you can really decipher a microaggression a lot of times – is just put anybody there that looks like that person, would their behaviour still be the same?'Rochelle overheard Johanne's remarks, with her interpretation sparked a sea of speculation about what was actually said, with even some viewers calling for the conversation to be re-aired to the house.Johanne then branded Rochelle 'stupid, dumb and a trouble maker,' with the row contributing to over 500 Ofcom complaintsPhilip's 'transphobic' remarks Philip's comments about the transgender community raised eyebrows, as said: 'If you want to be classed as a fridge, you're classed as a fridge'Prior to his Big Brother stint, Philip Regan had a huge social media following as his Scouse alter-ego The Queen Of Scotty Road.But along with his dislike of new arrival Twinks, his comments about the transgender community also raised eyebrows.During a discussion with Twinks about pronouns, Philip said: 'Me growing up my generation it was him and her. Now everything is different.'When Twinks asked him to clarify. he said: 'Just not that, everything. You can't talk about nothing. If you want to be classed as a fridge, you're classed as a fridge.'Philip's remarks led to backlash from several former BB stars, including last year's housemate Sam Ashby, who uses they/them pronouns.They wrote: 'You are a gay man and you are pressed about people who call themselves they/them. Get a fucking life.'Celebrity Big Brother star Danny Beard also called out Philip while appearing on spin-off Big Brother: The Group Chat.He said: 'Don't get me started on him, because I loved the Queen of Scotty Road when he came in.'And the fridge comment... I'm not into anyone from any kind of community pulling up the ladder behind them. Language changes, communities change, we should fight for all of our community and not try to alienate... certainly not our trans siblings.'And we look back, 2004, one of the best winners ever, Nadia (Almada). Proud trans woman. And then we cut to 2026 and we've got people making fridge comments? Get in the bin!'Bullying drama Philip clashed with housemate Twinks on several occasions, with viewers begging bosses to reprimand him for his comments after he called her a 'c**t' Twinks broke down in tears in the Diary Room, saying: 'It's not nice, they're not nice people.'Philip clashed with housemate Twinks on several occasions, with viewers begging bosses to reprimand him for his comments.One particular row came after housemate Catrin complained to Lynx she was growing uncomfortable with all of the housemates being 'nasty about each other.'As Twinks noted that Catrin was upset with the 'hierarchy' in the house, Rhianna relayed the conversation to Philip, who rushed to confronted her.Philip told Twinks to 'keep your f***** mouth shut,' and while venting his frustrations later on, he referred to her as a 'c**t.'Twinks broke down in tears in the Diary Room, saying: 'Why would I put myself through this? It doesn't feel nice. ''Grow thick skin, it's the big Brother house.'' Maybe I don't want a thick skin, maybe I had to have a thick skin growing up and I've spent the last 15 years trying to feel soft and feel things.'It's not nice, they're not nice people. I really genuinely feel like Cat would have such a better chance if I wasn't here. She's such a sweet, kind, and empathetic person.'Viewers were furious that Philip didn't receive a formal warning from Big Brother for his remarks, as he later declared 'war' on Twinks. Religion row Rochelle and Johanne's relationship in the Big Brother house was tumultuous, and the pair locked horns a mere 24 hours after joining the showRochelle and Johanne's relationship in the Big Brother house was tumultuous, and the pair locked horns a mere 24 hours after joining the show, in a conversation that raised eyebrows among the Christian community.Johanne took offence when Rochelle began to share her love of dogs.She says: 'Dog is God backwards. Dogs worship you and... they're, you're their whole world. And you're meant to like love God, and you love your dogs don't you?'Johanne notes that associating a dog with God was 'a bit much,' but Rochelle hit back: 'God does horrible things to you, for no reason.'Johanne insisted God 'has never done anything horrible to her,' and when Rochelle questioned her again, she said: 'Well, you should go pray, or maybe you deserved it.'Tensions between Rochelle and Johanne then hit fever pitch that evening during a question game, leading Rochelle to scream at Johanne to 'f**k off,' and she hits back 'not to get loud with her,' leading the other housemates to step in to try and calm the situation.Big Brother returns for a one-off reunion show on Friday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX