Which shows aroused the most outrage among TV viewers this year? Did sex, violence or bad language upset viewers most? We crunch the numbers...

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom is the consumer’s last resort if complaints to an individual broadcaster go unheeded. This year, Ofcom have kindly shared with us a digest of the TV shows that received the most complaints – some for individual episodes, and some for cumulative transgressions collected over the entire year.

Here’s the rundown of the top ten…

Big Brother (Channel 5) 3,784 complaints

Channel 5’s re-animation of the long-running reality franchise generated a huge number of complaints this year. Most of them centred on housemate Jale Karaturp, who had a number of fractious interactions with eventual winner Helen Wood that many believe amounted to bullying.

There were also complaints about the use of foul language before the 9pm watershed, and observations from some viewers that Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond’s close business relationship with Helen Wood made the outcome of the series questionable at best.

Celebrity Big Brother (Channel 5) 1,874 complaints

Like its less starry cousin, Celebrity Big Brother offended many of those watching by broadcasting unedited bad language before 9pm. Concerns were also raised about the mental state of Hollywood actor Gary Busey, and whether his treatment by other celebrities amounted to bullying.

Cutting Edge: Going to the Dogs (Channel 4) 1,805 complaints

In a nation of animal-lovers, any television show about cruelty to our four-legged friends is bound to cause controversy. In this case filmmaker Penny Woolcock’s investigation into the growing problem of illegal dog fighting was seen as exploitative and unnecessarily graphic.

Benefits Street (Channel 4) 967 complaints

No surprise that this fly-on-the-wall show about residents of Winson Green in Birmingham aroused controversy. There were concerns from some viewers that the participants were being unfairly portrayed, and calls from others who felt that the demonstration of shoplifting techniques was tantamount to a criminal’s how-to manual.

Coronation Street (ITV) 367 complaints

One particular episode, in which Todd Grimshaw seduced Marcus Dent, generated the bulk of complaints about the long-running soap this year.

While some viewers were outraged to see two men kissing on national television, a statement from the regulator said: “Ofcom can confirm that it is not investigating the scene in Coronation Street as it was not in breach of generally accepted standards. Our rules do not discriminate between scenes involving opposite sex and same sex couples.”

The X Factor (ITV) 360 complaints

No one issue brought about a mass of complaints regarding Simon Cowell’s all-conquering karaoke contest. It was more a large number of smaller complaints about the overall quality and perceived fairness of the competition.

EastEnders (BBC 1) 316 complaints

The distressing scene in which Dean Wicks raped Linda Carter inspired many viewers to get in touch with Ofcom. This storyline was seen as being too dark, and too upsetting, for mainstream viewing. Especially in the soap’s early evening time slot.

Emmerdale (ITV) 243 complaints

In a year of armed raids and assorted criminality breaking out across the (fictional) Yorkshire Dales, it’s perhaps no surprise that many viewers felt that there was too much violence on Emmerdale.

Sky News (20/07/14) (Sky News) 205 complaints

One particular report - coverage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 which was shot down over Ukraine - saw journalist Colin Brazier appearing to delve into a dead passenger's luggage, upsetting many viewers.

Brazier realised at the time that he had crossed a line – moments after picking through the debris saying: "Here are, I think it's a small girl's bag by the look of things ... a set of keys ... a toothbrush." He added: "We shouldn't really be doing this, I suppose really."

Channel 4 News (Channel 4) 193 complaints

There was no single report behind the total complaints made against Channel 4’s hard-hitting mid-evening news show. It’s perhaps inevitable that, in a time where upsetting things seem to happen almost every day, that the reports about them will upset somebody.

Which TV shows got your goat in the past twelve months? Sound off in the Comments section below!