The Brit Awards 2026 has meet met with dozens of complaints over ‘excessive censorship’ – as jokes from host Jack Whitehall were MUTED by ITV.
Viewers were left furious as they tuned into the music awards ceremony over the weekend, which was broadcast on ITV live from Manchester’s Co-Op Arena.
While host Jack, 37, cracked a series of edgy jokes towards audiences inside the arena, a number of them were edited out with static noise when broadcast on screens around the country with a brief delay.
It left over one hundred viewers complaining to broadcasting regulator Ofcom over the censorship of jokes and speeches alike.
A spokesperson for Ofcom confirmed that the majority of the 148 complaints concerned ‘elements of acceptance speeches being edited’, while ‘some related to jokes made by presenter Jack Whitehall’.
During the live broadcast, Jack had one of his hosting segments muted, as he met with a table of politicians, including Manchester’s Mayor, Andy Burnham.
The Brit Awards 2026 has meet met with dozens of complaints over ‘excessive censorship’ – as jokes from host Jack Whitehall were MUTED by ITV
Noel Gallagher’s playful taunt: ‘Up the f*****g blues’ was also removed from the broadcast, despite it being past the 9pm watershed
He was censored as he said: ‘So many politicians! I thought I saw Peter Mandelson on the list. Oh no sorry, that was another list, my bad…’
While another silence came as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here’s Angry Ginge, real name Morgan Burthwistle, joined darts star Luke Littler on stage.
The social media star told audience members he was pleased the Brit Awards had moved to Manchester, hitting out at London for being ‘a s**thole’.
Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez also faced static silence as they recounted their drug-fuelled past to Jack during one segment.
Elsewhere, Sharon Osbourne’s tribute to her late husband Ozzy was censored, as well as Noel Gallagher’s playful taunt: ‘Up the f*****g blues’ – despite it being past the 9pm watershed.
Fans were quick to hit out against the censorship during the live event, taking to social media to complain: ‘What happened to rock and roll?’
Fans thought ITV were being overly cautious following the backlash at the BAFTAs last week when Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson yelled the N-word slur at Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo who were presenting the award for special visual effects.
The Hollywood stars looked shocked but the word remained in the BBC’s broadcast which aired with a two-hour delay on Sunday before being uploaded to iPlayer.
Viewers wrote on X: ‘I’m actually sick of this censorship I’ve never remembered the brits being this bad I understand politics but I watch for how unhinged it was.
ITV faced fierce backlash over the constant censorship of the BRIT Awards from viewers as it aired on Saturday
‘I bet it’s because of the BAFTAs but this is too much like bleeping out “Ozzy f*****g Osbourne” at 11pm, are we for real?’
‘This censorship fuzz sounds all night has ruined the awards for me not needed after ten,’ a second chimed in to agree.
‘Ridiculous censorship. Too shouty. Too tame. Hardly rock n roll, more horlicks and a bourbon biscuit,’ penned a third.
‘Can they stop beeping everything out it’s literally past 9 o clock ffs,’ someone else wrote, while another add: ‘Also not them bleeping out Free Palestine, so strange.’
‘It’s half 9 on a Saturday night. You might as well sack the broadcast off altogether if you are going to censor everything that might be controversial! Christ alive,’ a sixth concluded.
Sharon was censored while making an emotional speech to Ozzy as she accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.
She said: ‘There will never be another Ozzy f***ing Osbourne and I f***ing love you.’
Fans asked: ‘Why censor swear words at almost 11pm? It’s also a bit disrespectful considering she was saying what Ozzy would have said!’
Elsewhere, I’m A Celebrity winner AngryGinge got muted when he celebrated the BRITs coming to his hometown (pictured with Luke Littler)
Meanwhile Noel made a reference to his beloved Manchester City as he declared ‘up the f***ing blues’, alluding to the club’s kit colour.
But viewers could only hear the boos from the crowd – presumably from Manchester United supporters after his taunt was silenced.
Bosses were even forced to censor host Jack Whitehall after he made a joke about former Labour grandee Peter Mandelson.
The disgraced former minister was arrested last week as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office, following allegations he leaked sensitive information to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary.
Jack appeared to make reference to Mandelson while speaking to Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham.
However, the joke didn’t make it past ITV censors as viewers watching the ceremony at home heard bird noise over Jack’s comments.
Jack joked how the BRITs is ‘the only party Andy is allowed into these days’, mocking the fact Sir Keir Starmer is blocking Andy from running as an MP for the Labour party.
Jack referenced Mandelson’s name in the so-called Epstein Files, by saying: ‘I think I saw Peter Mandelson on the list, oh no sorry that’s another list!’
Despite being cut from the ITV broadcast, the joke was still shared on the BRIT Awards’ Instagram.
Elsewhere, I’m A Celebrity winner AngryGinge got muted when he celebrated the BRITs coming to his hometown.
He cheekily quipped: ‘It’s so great to see the BRITs in Manchester because people are now realising London is a s***hole!’
Max Bassin of Geese also was muted during his acceptance speech the band won their first ever Brit Award for International Group of the Year.
He said: ‘I just want to say, Free Palestine, F–k ICE, go Geese!’
Viewers thought ITV bosses were playing it safe and missed the ‘chaos’ that used to be the BRITs.
Back in 2008, the Osbourne family were asked to present The BRIT Awards but didn’t quite adhere to the ‘no swearing on live television’ rule.
Not only did they fill the whole show with expletives, which prompted 128 Ofcom complaints, but Sharon got particularly angry at comedian Vic Reeves in one awkward moment.
At the 2000 BRIT Awards, Robbie Williams decided to use his moment on stage to challenge Oasis star Liam Gallagher to a fight.
There had long been brewing tension between the pair after Liam had branded Robbie the ‘fat dancer from Take That’.
And their conflict came to a head when an inebriated-seeming Robbie took to the stage whilst accepting his best British Song award and said to the audience: ‘So, anybody like to see me fight Liam? Would you pay to come and see it?’
Meanwhile Liam was embroiled in another controversial BRITs moment in 2010.
The Oasis star was awarded a special Best Album of 30 Years award for (What’s the story) Morning Glory? and took to stage to accept the gong.
However, not only did he snub his own brother and bandmate Noel in his acceptance speech, but swore his way through a 10-minute-long ramble.
And when he’d finally finished, Liam threw his microphone and his actual award into the audience.
