Big Brother to be investigated by Ofcom after 600 complaints about sex scenes

The complaints centered on sexual scenes aired between contestants Laura Carter and Marco Pierre White Jr.

Ofcom is to investigate Channel 5's Big Brother following more than 600 complaints on the airing of sexual content.

The reality show is currently British TV's most regularly complained about programme, though its latest series may have actually outdone itself on the controversy scale; after contestants Laura Carter and Marco Pierre White Jr. were involved in particularly extreme sex scenes.

Pierre White Jr., son of the celebrity chef, was seen to put his hand down Carter's underwear, while pulling her top up and asking her to "choke" him with a belt while she straddled him; the moments broadcast just after the 9PM watershed on Sunday, 12 June. He received a formal warning from the show's bosses, before being evicted from the Big Brother house on Friday, 17 June.

Ofcom has stated it received 634 complaints about the scenes (via The Guardian); with a representative stating, "We’re investigating whether sexual scenes in this episode of Big Brother exceeded generally accepted standards for its time of broadcast." Channel 5 declined to comment on the investigation.

Meanwhile, Pierre White Jr.'s mother has spoken out about the distress of watching her son the show, claiming that he has no social boundaries. "I don't want to say bad things about my son, whom I love dearly. But I just don't know what to do to help him. I worry it's too late," she stated. "The strangling thing was horrific to see, although I do think that Big Brother was irresponsible to have shown it. As his mother, I don't approve of Big Brother showing him as a sexual predator."

The reality series, now in its 17th year, is presented by Emma Willis and airs nightly on Channel 5.