Channel 4 has found itself inundated with complaints on social media following the decision to have the Gogglebox cast discuss last weekend’s Unite the Kingdom rally in London.
On Saturday, September 13, 150,000 demonstrators descended on the capital in what was billed as the largest free speech rally the country has seen.
Spearheaded by Tommy Robinson, the Metropolitan Police confirmed “there was a very large turnout”, with the 150,000 figure going above and beyond the estimates of organisers.
Around 1,600 police officers were deployed, and counter-protestors also gathered. Following the event, at least 25 people were arrested and 26 police officers were injured, with four seriously hurt.
Gogglebox: Helena (left) was particularly damning of the protests
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CHANNEL 4
The gargantuan turnout hit headlines across the globe, especially with the likes of Elon Musk appearing via video link to deliver a speech to the demonstrators.
And as such, Gogglebox producers felt it was appropriate for the show’s stars to watch an ITV News report on the demonstration and provide their feedback.
Among those providing their thoughts were long-serving Jenny and Lee. “It just goes to show that people are worried about it and our government has got to sort it,” Jenny added at the top of the segment.
However, Lee had an alternate view of the scenes he was watching: “Well, I don’t think this has united the nation. This is just thuggery.”
Gogglebox: Baasit Siddiqui (right) admitted he was proud to be British and wanted to find pride in the flag
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CHANNEL 4
Cotswolds pair Alfie and Andrew were also dismayed. “For f*** sake. Anything anti-migrant, Tommy Robinson is at the front,” Alfie said before claiming that protestors “lied” about wanting a peaceful demo.
Meanwhile, Gogglebox star Helena made her stance clear, saying to her parents: “When will people work out that immigrants aren’t the problem? My brain can’t understand that level of tribalism.”
“I don’t think you were brought up like that, anyway,” her mum replied, prompting Helena to quip: “No, you’ve never said ‘Britain is for the British’ over dinner to me, I’ve noticed that.”
Elsewhere, Ellie and Izzi said that they were “genuinely scared” of the people attending the marches. The former even went as far as to claim: “I feel like they’re more likely to be violent towards me as an individual and a woman as a migrant.”
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Gogglebox: Andrew and Alfie were also condescending about the demonstrators
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CHANNEL 4
Later, Andrew turned to Alfie to ponder: “Is it really fuelled by public unease or is it fuelled by activists? The fact (Tommy Robinson) can move that many people is a frightening thing.”
Baasit of the Siddiqui family argued: “I love this country and I want to look at that flag and feel pride for it as well, but then it’s almost like you’re being forced to look at it in a different way.
While contributor 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.”
Some comments veered toward framing those in attendance in a more favourable light, however. Annie told her husband, Ronnie: “The people I know who went to it are definitely not far-right fascists.”
Gogglebox: Tremaine (left) warned his brothers about the supposed connotations of the Union Jack flag
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CHANNEL 4
But with so much of the reaction to the Unite the Kingdom rally being negative, Channel 4 viewers flocked to social media to accuse the show of “left-wing bias” and pushing “Anglophobic nonsense!”
“@Channel4 I will not be watching this ever again. You labelled everyone thugs, we are not #Gogglebox,” one viewer fumed on X before a second hit out: “Agenda pushing lefturd s***e. #Gogglebox is staffing viewers with its Anglophobic nonsense!”
Meanwhile, a third hit out: “@C4Gogglebox What’s going on with #Gogglebox? Keep poxy politics out of the programme! If I hear left right blah blah once more! It used to be a fun show, not a political views show… It’s starting to lose its appeal… sadly.”
Elsewhere, a fourth raged: “@Channel4 I realise you don’t care, because I’m just one viewer you are losing. But I’ll no longer watch #Gogglebox because you are now ACTIVELY alienating quite arguably FIFTY PER CENT of your viewing audience, probably more, as the young and the Left don’t watch TV anymore.”
“Used to love #Gogglebox but have found it more and more contrived, & the leftist political slant so blatantly obvious & infuriating,” a fifth echoed. “#Ch4 you have a LOT to answer for, you’re as bad as the others!”
And a sixth agreed: “Used to really enjoy Gogglebox but the last year not so much, too left-wing bias, I’ve not watched this new season hardly the odd segment, but after the comments about Friday’s episode I haven’t bothered #Gogglebox.” (sic)