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Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, said it had received 120 complaints from viewers since the ninth series of the Channel 4 reality show started last Thursday.

Most viewers contacted the watchdog about bad language and bullying, with others complaining about scenes in which one contestant took her clothes off and jumped in the pool.

An Ofcom spokesman said: "We will be looking at all the complaints and will launch an investigation only if we think the complaints are properly justified."

The latest series of Big Brother got off to a shaky start with ratings for the launch night down by one million on last year.

The opening programme drew an average audience of 5.2 million last Thursday, peaking briefly at 5.9 million mid-way through.

By contrast, Big Brother 8 launched with an average 6.2 million viewers and a peak of eight million in 2007.

Last night's episode pulled in 3.2 million viewers, around the same as this time last year.

The new series features 16 housemates, including the show's first blind contestant, radio producer Mikey Hughes.

A Thai massage therapist, a female bodybuilder and a Girls Aloud reject are also among the hopefuls.

For the first time, the series features a couple.

Mario Marconi - a Sylvester Stallone lookalike who was christened Shaun but changed his name because he prefers to sound Italian - is dating Lisa Appleton, a tanning product sales rep.

Telegraph