BBC Breakfast under fire as 'graphic' images spark major complaints

BBC Breakfast came under fire from fans over the weekend as they aired "graphic scenes" early in the morning. Viewers were waking up to the show only to be met with scenes of surgery - much to their dismay.

At around 7.30am on Sunday, the show featured a segment on Pinky Jolley, from the Wirral, who nearly died twice after a botched weight loss operation in Turkey. The video clip accompanying the report showed shots of her going under the knife, surrounded by surgeons as she had corrective surgery under the NHS back in the UK.

The report shared that the operation was successful and allowed her to eat solid food for the first time in three years. But fans at home weren't too pleased as they complained that it was "too early" for such a graphic story.

One user on X/Twitter sarcastically wrote: "Graphic surgery scenes this early in a morning… yum #bbcbreakfast." Another user echoed their thoughts, adding: "Surgery and dog s**t lovely sunday topics this morning #bbcbreakfast."

A third user complained: "Would have been nice if Pinky highlighted the dangers of surgery in Turkey considering we are paying for the remedial surgery #BBCBreakfast."

Pinky, 45, travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, for the weight loss procedure in November 2022 after tipping the scales at 17st 11lbs.

After a two-hour operation to have 85 per cent of her stomach removed, Pinky claims she experienced a myriad of complications, including intense abdominal pain, vomiting, and dehydration.

Back in the UK, four days later, the diabetic sought medical help. Doctors at Arrow Park Hospital did an emergency CT scan and discovered a serious leak after surgery had led to infection which had turned her internal organs "to concrete".

Three surgeons were then forced to "jet-wash" the inside of her stomach to save her life. Pinky’s surgery was a success and she can now eat solid food, after months of being fed through a tube in her nose.

Elsewhere on BBC Breakfast, viewers also complained about the show's coverage of the Southport riots. Following the tragic stabbing of three little girls in Southport last week, the nation has seen a number of violent riots break out across the country, with many police officers being injured.

BBC hosts Sarah Campbell and Ben Thompson reported on the matter on August 5, after the weekend saw mosques and hotels used to house asylum seekers in numerous towns and cities being targeted by far-right thugs.

But fans at home branded the BBC show "pathetic" as they urged them to "call out the truth" over the language used to describe the riots.

BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC and BBC iPlayer