BBC Breakfast hit with complaints after ‘graphic’ images horrify viewers-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

*Warning this article contains some graphic images

BBC Breakfast viewers have questioned the broadcaster’s decision to air ‘graphic’ surgery scenes ‘so early in the morning.’

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 report included clips from her NHS corrective surgery in the UK which was successful and allowed her to eat solid food for the first time in three years.

However, BBC Breakfast viewers complained on X that the surgery scenes were inappropriate for the time in the morning.

@TVnerd5645 said sarcastically: ‘Graphic surgery scenes this early in a morning… yum #bbcbreakfast.’

Echoing their sentiment, @Susan05713606 said: ‘Surgery and dog s**t lovely sunday topics this morning #bbcbreakfast.’

NHS doctors perform corrective surgery on Pinky after a botched operation (Picture: BBC)

Wanting a more rounded report, @AbdnAlba commented: ‘Would have been nice if Pinky highlighted the dangers of surgery in Turkey considering we are paying for the remedial surgery #BBCBreakfast.’

Pinky flew to Turkey in November 2022 to have a gastric sleeve operation as her weight had increased to 17 stone 11 lbs.

She could not afford the surgery in the UK, which can cost between £7,000 and £12,000. In Turkey, she paid £2,100.

Pinky suffered a serious leak after having the operation and spent months on intravenous antibiotics. Since then, she has only been able to consume liquidised food through a tube in her nose.

Viewers complained the scenes were ‘too graphic’ for the time in the morning (Picture: BBC)

Medics at University Hospital agreed to perform a bypass operation after other surgeons said the damage was irreversible. There was a chance Pinky could die on the operating table but she was willing to take the risk.

Pinky’s surgery was a success and she can now eat solid food.

Earlier this year, Morgan Ribeiro died after undergoing weight loss surgery in Turkey.

The 20-year-old paid £2,500 for gastric sleeve surgery in a bid to dodge lengthy NHS waiting lists.

BBC Breakfast interviewed Pinky who hadn’t eaten solid food in three years (Picture: BBC)

After the procedure on January 5, she was given the all-clear to fly home with boyfriend James Brewster, 19.

But on the flight home, Morgan fell ill and went into septic shock.

The plane made an emergency landing in Serbia, where doctors discovered her small intestine had been cut, leading to a deadly infection that ultimately killed her.

In a warning to others, her mother Erin Gibson told the Independent: ‘Growing up she was bullied a lot, she’s always battled with her weight and been a bigger girl and she had a really rough time with it.

‘I had that sinking feeling because I’d heard horror stories about Turkey. I never ever want this to happen to another daughter. I don’t want her life to be in vain.’ 

Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment.

BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One and iPlayer from 6am to 9am.

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