Channel 4’s new documentary The Great ADHD Myth? has received thousands of Ofcom complaints, after stoking viewers’ ire with its audacious premise.
The documentary sought to investigate whether ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a genuine neurodevelopmental disorder or a ‘social construct’.
The programme aired on August 18 and generated 9,656 complaints from that date to Monday, August 24, according to Ofcom’s weekly audience report.
The controversial doc particularly questions whether children diagnosed with the disorder should be given psychiatric drugs, such as amphetamines, to medicate it.
According to NHS data, as of May 2025, an estimated 2,498,000 people in England had ADHD (including those without a diagnosis) and, of those, 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24.
Channel 4 cites additional NHS data, showing that there has been a 200% increase in the number of people being referred for an ADHD diagnosis between 2020 and 2025.
The programme centres around Dr Max Pemberton, a full-time NHS psychiatrist, and his investigation of the maybe-myth of ADHD.
‘As a psychiatrist, I’ve watched ADHD go from a diagnosis that was only occasionally made and after careful assessment, to one that is increasingly demanded and dispensed, and I wanted to understand why,’ Dr Pemberton said.
‘There’s no doubt that the people seeking these diagnoses are genuinely struggling; that isn’t in question. What the film asks is whether ADHD is really the best explanation for that struggle and my hope is that we come away with permission to ask better questions about what modern life is doing to all of us.’
But the resultant programme has been condemned by the ADHD community, as well as leading figures in the space. The charity ADHD UK even encouraged viewers to ‘send Ofcom a complaint’.
What is ADHD?
NHS describes ADHD as ‘a condition that affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating, and may act on impulse.’
Is it often diagnosed in childhood, but in some cases isn’t recognised until adulthood.
‘Research has also identified a number of possible differences in the brains of people with ADHD when compared with those without the condition.
Other factors suggested as potentially having a role in ADHD include:
- being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)
- having a low birth weight
- smoking or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy.’
For children, treatments include ‘appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medicine, if necessary.’
For adults, ‘medicine is often the first treatment offered, although psychological therapies may also help.’
The Guardian’s four-star review dubbed it ‘the most controversial show of the year’, while The Irish Independent declared it was ‘brazenly one-sided’ and ‘grossly irresponsible TV’.
A contributor to The Great ADHD Myth? withdrew her support after the programme had aired, describing it as a misrepresentation of her views.
Katya Rubia, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, said: ‘Biased programmes like this one that push their view of ADHD as a mythical entity are irresponsible and will have detrimental effects.
‘In particular at a time in our society where mental health conditions are escalating and where there is an urgent need for early diagnosis and early treatment to prevent further damage down the line.’
Metro contacted Channel 4 for comment on this story.
The Great ADHD Myth? is available to stream on Channel 4.