Jeremy Vine was born on May 17, 1965 – meaning that today the popular and sometimes controversial broadcaster turns 57.
Happy Birthday, Jeremy!
Known for hosting Eggheads and hosting his BBC Radio 2 lunchtime programme, in recent years he’s best known for stepping into Matthew Wright’s shoes.
September 2018 saw Jeremy replace Matthew as the presenter of Channel 5’s weekday morning current affairs show.
It was called The Wright Stuff, but changed to Jeremy Vine when he took over.
The current affairs hooked television chat and topical debate show airs weekday mornings from 9:15 until 12:15.
Hosted by Jeremy and Storm Huntley, each episode features celebrity panellists who debate the latest news, views and the headlines.
Known for riling up guests and viewers at home with controversial opinions and segments, the Jeremy Vine show has had its fair share of OfCom complaints – keep reading to discover the most complained about moments.
Covid jabs row
(Image: @JeremyVineOn5/Twitter)
In January, Jeremy Vine’s show received close to 800 Ofcom complaints following a controversial debate on compulsory vaccines for NHS staff.
Before Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced a U-turn on the proposed rule, it was discussed on the show and sparked a huge row.
At the time it was proposed that NHS workers were required to have their first jab by February 3 to continue in their frontline roles.
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and nutritionist Lowri Turner clashed when Yasmin aired her views on the matter.
She said that she was not prepared to be treated by frontline workers who were not jabbed.
Speaking to Jeremy she said: “I think unless there are medical reasons why staff are not jabbed.
“If you’re working in the NHS or care homes, you really should get jabbed.”
She continued: “If you’ve made a decision and you’ve come out on these demos, you must be brave enough to say I’ve not had the jab.
“The patient has the right to say I don’t want to be treated by you.”
Lowri said: “Initially I thought, we’re supposed to be all in this together, how incredibly selfish to put other people at risk.
“We now know for example with Omicron, two jabs don’t provide that much protection. So at the moment, being jabbed is two jabs, not a booster.”
In February the segment attracted more than 760 Ofcom complaints.
Russian soldiers controversy
(Image: Channel 5)
With more than 200 Ofcom complaints, viewers were in a state of shock when Jeremy said that Russian soldiers “probably deserve to die”.
In March the watchdog confirmed that they had received a whopping 227 complaints about the segment.
Jeremy spoke to a viewer who asked: “What’s your problem with fighting Russians if they’ve invaded Ukraine?”
The caller then said that the people of Russia aren’t our enemies, before explaining: “Quite a number of those Russians you’ll probably find will go across… [some] were holding their hands up this morning not wanting to fight Ukrainians. They were told lies by Putin, surprise surprise.”
Jeremy then said: “True. But the brutal reality is, if you put on a uniform for Putin and you go and fight his war, you probably deserve to die, don’t you?”
The caller seemed shocked when he responded: “Do you? Do kids deserve to die? 18 and 20 years old? Who are called up and conscripted? Who don’t understand it? Who don’t grasp the issues?”
Viewers at home were just as shocked as the caller when they filed complaints to Ofcom.
Piers Morgan comments
(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA LA)
Last September the show was hit with more than 50 Ofcom complaints when the group of panellists discussed Piers Morgan.
Jeremy and his panel of guests debated Piers last September, when Dr Shola slammed the no-nonsense broadcaster after the Ofcom verdict vindicating Piers for his comments about Meghan Markle.
“I was in that debate with Piers Morgan on that day,” Shola said, before adding: “and the bottom line is this Ofcom ruling totally whitewashes what has happened.”
She continued: “Listen to me, when I say Piers Morgan was objectively irresponsible as a broadcaster, I mean what I say.
“He was objectively offensive on race and mental health, especially in the way he was so dismissive of what he said in terms of her own experience.
“And he was deeply personal.
“Piers Morgan continually uses his platform, what he did that say was use his platform, a national platform, the ITV studios, as his own personal living room to just rant out.”
Piers ended up responding via a tweet, and said: “Poor old Dr Shola, the most abusive, offensive & obsessive Piers-basher in Britain – my victory is eating her alive.”
Migrant crossing debate
(Image: Channel 5)
Last October GB News’ Nana Akua was on the panel when the topic of migrants crossing the channel was discussed and Ofcom received more than 160 complaints for the show’s segment.
Nana’s comment left fellow guest Jemma Forte offended, and likely many viewers at home also.
Supporting the controversial policy, Nana said that migrants should accept the risk of drowning if they were travelling from supposedly safe countries within Europe.
She explained: “If people have come across from the Channel, from France, which is safe, why would they want to take a dangerous border crossing and then have to be rescued?
“Basically, what often happens is they throw themselves overboard so they then have to do a rescue mission, which is part of maritime law.
“I personally think… look, as long as you know that if you come across you won’t be rescued if your boat sinks, I think that’s fair enough.”
Gemma then stepped in and said: “I think it’s one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever heard in my life.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
