CONTROVERSIAL EPISODE: Gogglebox sparks Ofcom storm after fuming viewers SWITCH OFF over ‘Blatant Bias’
Gogglebox has sparked a wave of Ofcom complaints after viewers threatened to boycott the programme. The episode broadcast on Friday, 19 September, saw the reality stars and sofa critics discussing Tommy Robinson’s Unite The Kingdom rally.
As the discussion turned to current affairs, viewers were left distinctly unimpressed.
Ofcom has now confirmed it received 53 complaints, with a spokesperson declaring: “The majority of complaints related to comments made during a segment about the Unite the Kingdom march, which complainants felt were biased.” The episode showed sisters Ellie and Izzi, best friends Jenny and Lee, and pals Abbie and Georgia watching news footage of Tommy Robinson’s protest from the previous weekend, reports the Mirror.
Some voiced frustration at Elon Musk’s involvement, whilst others shared their opinions on the demonstration.
“When will people work out that immigrants aren’t the problem?” Gogglebox star Helena questioned. “My brain can’t understand that level of tribalism.
“I don’t think this has United the Nation, this is thuggery,” Lee commented.
Ellie and Izzi admitted they were “genuinely scared” of the people taking part in the marches, with Ellie expressing: “I feel like they’re more likely to be violent towards me as an individual and a woman as a migrant is.”
Viewers were incensed by the commentary, with one person posting on X: “#Gogglebox turned from entertainment to political in tonight’s show. Switched off, not sure I’ll bother in future.”
One viewer vented: “Spent years watching Gogglebox but tonight was the last night after the ‘coverage’ of the @TRobinsonNewEra event on Saturday. Woke propaganda at its best. Did they get extra money for supporting the far far far left?”.
Another commented: “What have the t**ts at @Channel4 done to #gogglebox ! Use to be top television but now unfortunately bulls**t left propaganda! Such a shame!”
“Love #Gogglebox hate when the narrative has to be sold,” another viewer penned.
A further viewer fumed: “Should be goggle lefts! extreme bias in force, pathetic to watch, let people have their own opinions not what’s popular among brainwashed sheep. PS I don’t like either side.”
As Gogglebox concluded last Friday, Tremaine told his brother Twaine and Tristan: “When I was young, that flag said, ‘Don’t come in this pub’, that flag said, ‘Don’t come down this road’, that flag says, ‘I don’t like you’. I grew up in a time when it was used for that and now it’s being used for that again.”
