The Brit Awards 2026 has sparked outrage after ITV censored jokes and speeches during the live broadcast, leading to 148 complaints to Ofcom. The ceremony, held at Manchester's Co-Op Arena and aired on Saturday, saw host Jack Whitehall's jokes muted, along with other segments, drawing criticism from viewers.
Ofcom confirmed the complaints, with a spokesperson stating that most concerned 'elements of acceptance speeches being edited' and 'some related to jokes made by presenter Jack Whitehall'. Among the censored moments was Whitehall's joke about politicians, including a reference to Peter Mandelson, and a segment with I'm a Celebrity star Angry Ginge, who called London 'a s**thole'.
Other muted moments included Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder and Bez discussing their drug-fuelled past, Sharon Osbourne's tribute to her late husband Ozzy, and Noel Gallagher's taunt 'Up the f*****g blues'. Viewers expressed frustration on social media, noting that censorship occurred after the 9pm watershed, with one asking: 'Why censor swear words at almost 11pm?'
Fans speculated that ITV was being overly cautious following the BAFTAs backlash, where a Tourette's campaigner used a racial slur on BBC. Despite the delay, the Brit Awards censorship left many disappointed, with one viewer tweeting: 'What happened to rock and roll?'
