Under-fire This Morning hit by More Ofcom Complaints After Cat Deeley's 'Offensive' Comments

This Morning Faces Backlash

This Morning has faced a surge in Ofcom complaints following presenter Cat Deeley's apology for what some viewers deemed as 'offensive' on-air comments. Cat, 47, who recently took on hosting duties alongside Ben Shephard, 49, issued an apology after a poorly-received joke aired on the show.

Controversial Moment

The incident occurred two weeks ago when Cat was seen dancing to a Meghan Trainor track and jokingly stated she was "having a seizure." This remark sparked backlash from viewers who suffer from seizures and the Epilepsy Society, who found the comment insensitive towards the condition.

Apology and Complaints

Following the backlash, 66 complaints were initially lodged with Ofcom on June 17, a number that has now doubled to 133. Cat Deeley later apologized on air, expressing regret for any offense caused by her remarks. However, Ofcom has not yet commented on whether an investigation will be launched.

This Morning's Response

Reports emerged that This Morning producers instructed Cat to issue an apology in response to the controversy. A show insider revealed that the decision was made to prevent any further backlash, despite some feeling that the apology may not have been necessary.

Viewership Decline

The controversy comes amidst a decline in viewership for ITV's mid-morning show. Viewing figures have dropped significantly in the past two months, with a peak of over a million viewers in March plummeting to 589,000 by May. The average number of viewers tuning in to the show also fell to 486,000.

This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV1.