Celebrity Big Brother faces Ofcom probe after 25,000 people complain about the show

CELEBRITY Big Brother could be investigated by Ofcom as the number of complaints made about the show in relation to Roxanne Pallett’s ‘punch-gate’ continue to grow.
Fans of the long-running Five reality show were left outraged when 35-year-old Roxanne asked Big Brother to expel fellow contestant Ryan Thomas, 34, following a play fight.

Complaints quickly reached double figures with 11,000 lodging grievance’s within hours of the incident that featured in scenes aired last Thursday.

However, that number has now swelled to exceed 25,000 complaints – with the broadcasting regulator confirming 25,257 fans have now been in contact.

Ofcom spokesperson: “We are assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, before deciding whether or not to investigate.”

Last week fans of the show were left shocked when the former Emmerdale actress claimed she was "punched" by Ryan "like a boxer would punch a bag" and accused him of being a "woman beater".

The 'punch row' so far

• • Roxanne Pallett sensationally apologises after claiming Ryan Thomas punched her and calling him a 'woman beater' on Celebrity Big Brother
  • She's comforted by fiance Lee Walton after making the apology on Jeremy Vine's new show
  • The actress is slammed by TWENTY of her ex-Emmerdale co-stars who back Ryan over the play fight row
  • Lorraine Kelly urges Roxanne to seek help and 'get her head straight'
  • Lucy Mecklenburgh demands CBB bosses revoke boyfriend Ryan’s warning over the 'punch'
  • Roxanne is blasted by former managers who say they "recognise the person everyone is now seeing very well"
  • Ryan's brother Adam blasts Roxanne's "pathetic" apology interview
  • His other brother Scott calls on viewers to vote for him to win CBB

The former Coronation Street actor was given a formal warning by Big Brother  after Roxanne demanded to speak to a producer about something which made her feel "very uncomfortable" following a play fight between the pair, and she later asked for him to be booted off the show.

After it aired hundreds off fans took to Twitter to reveal they had lodged complaints with Ofcom and asked for her "kicked out of the house", claiming she was "making a mockery of abuse victims".

One person tweeted: "I've just logged a complaint with ofcom (took less than 5 mins)...by #cbb issuing a warning to Ryan, it demonstrates #cbb accepts that Ryan had intent to hurt or upset her, this was clearly not the case; #cbb and @RoxannePallett should apologies immediately."

Another commented: "@Ofcom To whom it may concern. I like to make a formal complaint against happenings on #CBB..."

But it has not just been fans complaining - as numerous stars have taken to social media and to the airwaves to blast her behavious.

Former CBB contestant Nicola McLean was vocal about her displeasure over Roxanne's actions when she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side minutes after the controversial footage had aired.

The 36-year-old raged: "She's seen it as a storyline and that's what I'm disgusted by, disgusted.

"I'm absolutely furious because do you know what? In the light of MeToo and that, every woman is campaigning for domestic violence - and men - how dare she go and do that? How dare she?!

"When this guy has been nothing but brilliant for the whole show, and she's doing this for a storyline and I don't give a s*** what anyone says, I know Roxanne, I've worked with her before and I liked her before this but f*** off it's disgusting."

Former co-stars of the actress have also taken to social media to slam her actions.

One of the first to share their thoughts was Charley Webb, who plays Debbie Dingle, in the soap, and who crossed paths with Roxanne when she played Jo Sugden from 2005 to 2008.

She wrote: "It’s worrying that someone is allowed to say that about someone and they’re taking it seriously. We’ve just watched it and nothing happened. Outrageous. "

Roxanne has since apologised - appearing on The Jeremy Vine Show on Monday as she desperately tried to damage control her situation.

She told the host: "At the time it hurt, but when I look back on the footage, I got it wrong."

She added: "My mind ran away with me. I am a sensitive person. My friends and family can vouch for that.

"In the house everything becomes so heightened, a look, a comment, an action. Your insecurities are heightened.

"All I can say is in the moment it felt worse than it was. I can't prove a feeling. It was the word 'deliberately' I regret. I massively apologise to Ryan, his family, friends, his fans - every single person who saw an overreaction to what wasn't a malicious act.

"I am heartbroken in contributing to Ryan's distress. I hope he can forgive me."

It may all prove to be too late for the star, however, as it is believed she may have lost hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of work following the incident.

It is believed the star has now been banned from panto, has lost £100,00 from acting roles and £78,000 from Instagram endorsements - while her CBB fee is also believed to have been revoked as she did not leave the house via public vote.

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