Viewers watching BBC’s The One Show last night (August 19) issued the same complaint after the show shared more coverage of the women’s rugby.

For Tuesday evening’s programme, hosts Roman Kemp and Clara Amfo welcomed actors Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan and Mark Hamill to speak about their latest film, The Life of Chuck.

Former Corrie star Suranne Jones also promoted her new drama, Hostage.

Clara and Roman hosted The One Show last night (Credit: BBC)
The One Show fans complain about women’s rugby coverage

Despite a credible list of famous faces on the show, viewers were unimpressed with the lack of attention the guests received during the 30-minute programme.

Also, they were unhappy that the show featured more coverage of women’s rugby to fill the time slot.

“Another night of an overstuffed #TheOneShow, meaning the guests get very little airtime… do we need a rugby feature every day this week?” one user wrote on X.

“And now to women’s rugby.. yet another random topic,” another person shared, adding the eye roll emoji.

“Women’s rugby, couldn’t be less interested to be fair,” a third remarked. Another echoed: “So dull!”

“Too much VT when they could spend longer interviewing the guests,” another insisted.

The show welcomed a star-studded range of guests (Credit: BBC)
‘What a sofa!’

Meanwhile, many enjoyed the show and its variety in coverage.

“Terrific show this evening, and fabulous to see Ballynahinch Rugby Club featured. All best to the Ireland Ladies Rugby Team for the World Cup next week,” one shared on Facebook.

“What a sofa tonight. Bring back the hour show once a week. That sofa could’ve easily filled an hour,” another stated.

“Fab guests this evening!” a third expressed.

“Great lineup tonight,” a fourth said.

The One Show has come under fire after airing a segment on women’s rugby that left a number of viewers unimpressed — with some even admitting they “switched off” the programme entirely. The backlash came swiftly on social media, where critics voiced their frustration over what they perceived as overly long coverage and an apparent agenda being “forced” into the primetime slot.

The segment, which aimed to celebrate the rise and achievements of women’s rugby in the UK, featured interviews with players, behind-the-scenes training footage, and a discussion on the sport’s growing popularity and importance. While the intention was to spotlight the evolution of women’s sport — particularly in a traditionally male-dominated arena — not everyone was on board.

Within minutes of the piece airing, viewers took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to vent. “Sorry, but I’ve switched off. Not interested in women’s rugby,” one viewer wrote, while another added, “Is this The One Show or a rugby documentary? Where’s the entertainment and balance?” Others complained the show felt “preachy” and accused it of pushing a “woke” agenda rather than simply informing or entertaining.

However, not all the feedback was negative. Supporters of the segment praised the BBC for highlighting women’s sport, an area that has historically received far less coverage than its male counterpart. “It’s about time women’s rugby got some airtime,” one user commented. “If it was a men’s tournament being covered, nobody would bat an eyelid.”

The BBC has not officially responded to the complaints, but the online backlash has reignited the ongoing debate about how mainstream media platforms should cover women’s sports. For many broadcasters, increasing visibility for women’s leagues is part of a broader push for equality and representation. Still, the viewer response to The One Show‘s rugby segment suggests there’s a divide in how audiences react to that change.

The show, which typically mixes human-interest stories, celebrity interviews, and lighter lifestyle content, has previously been praised for tackling socially relevant topics. Yet this latest controversy highlights the challenge of balancing progressive messaging with audience expectations — especially during a weeknight family viewing slot.

Whether this segment will affect future editorial decisions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: not all viewers are ready for what some see as a necessary evolution in sports coverage. As the conversation around women’s rugby — and women’s sport in general — continues to grow, so too will the divide between those who welcome the exposure and those who resist the shift.

For now, The One Show stands by its role in spotlighting a diverse range of topics. But with part of its audience feeling alienated by content they weren’t expecting, the show may need to tread more carefully in how it introduces these segments — or risk further tune-outs from an increasingly vocal viewership.