Channel 4 has been met with more than 10,000 Ofcom complaints as the backlash continues to grow against a controversial documentary that questioned whether ADHD is a "myth".

Branded “the most controversial show of the year” by reviewers, The Great ADHD Myth? was broadcast in August and met with immediate outcry.

The one-off documentary saw psychiatrist and author host Max Pemberton claim that the common understanding of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as a neurodevelopmental disorder was “not supported by the evidence, according to some of the most respected experts in the field”.

Following its release, charity ADHD UK immediately released a damning response, as it encouraged its supporters to file a complaint to Ofcom.

On Tuesday, the latest complaints report from the broadcasting watchdog revealed that it had received a total of 10,217 complaints about the show, rising from 9,656 in the first week after the show had aired.

The Standard has contacted Channel 4 for comment.

The opinions offered by the experts in The Great ADHD Myth? flies in the face of the NHS's own guidance on ADHD, which it describes as “a condition where the brain works differently to most people”, and can lead to high energy levels or problems with concentration.

When the episode first aired, ADHD UK, which had previously released an open letter to Channel 4 questioning the documentary's content and arguing that the question mark in the title was “not a get-out-of-harm-free card”, offered its verdict show publicly.

“We watched. We said we’d be fair. Here is our verdict,” the charity said. “ADHD is not a myth. It is not a social construct… We deserve better than this.”

Following the episode airing, one of the show's contributors, Professor Katya Rubia, withdrew her support from the show.

“My interview was hours long and they cherry-picked the bits that suited their push for presenting ADHD as a myth,” she told New Scientist. “Biased programmes like this one that push their view of ADHD as a mythical entity are irresponsible and will have detrimental effects.”

In its own statement, the Royal College of Psychiatrists said: “The way we speak about neurodevelopmental conditions really matters. It can fuel harmful stigma experienced by people living with the condition and risk discouraging people from seeking the support and treatment they need.”