Source loves… Gogglebox

steph and dom

Last year, television as we knew it changed forever. No, it wasn’t some edgy new gameshow, daring documentary series or clever comedy that caught our eye. It wasn’t Rylan’s teeth, a new law banning reality telly or even Joey Essex’s questionable intellect. It was Gogglebox.

Channel 4 had already wowed us with their brilliant ‘fly on the wall’ format, with shows like One Born Every Minute and Educating Essex. But Gogglebox was a whole new ballgame.

The format is simple. Take a collection of normal families, all from very different backgrounds, plonk them in front of the telly and let them chat amongst themselves – it shouldn’t have worked. But it was one of the biggest hits that Channel 4 have had in years, and we’re absolutely obsessed with it.

So what makes Gogglebox such compelling viewing? We came up with a few reasons…

 

It’s gone primetime!

Brits love Gogglebox SO much, that it’s been shifted from Thursday to a prime viewing slot, 9pm on a Friday – the perfect way to kick start your weekend and a legitimate excuse to stay in if your mates are doing your head in. Everyone’s a winner!

 

It really works

As a concept, Gogglebox is atrocious. Seriously bad. Who wants to sit and watch strangers watching the telly? In theory, it’s up there in the same league as ‘paint drying’. But despite this, it really does work. The humour is so natural and so on-the-button that our favourite armchair critics get it right more often than most of the telly columnists in papers across the land.

 

Leon and June

June and Leon

Romeo and Juliet. Posh and Becks. Wills and Kate. Just three of the greatest couples of all time. Last year, however, a new pairing joined the ranks – Leon and June. The retired teachers from Liverpool light up our lives with their cute quips, constant bickering and Leon taking any opportunity to be a bit filthy. See Leon watching Star Wars Episode 3:

“June…  Come to the dark side and show us your knicks.”

True romance.

You can follow the nation’s favourite grandparents on Twitter too – @LeonAndJune

 

It could be you

The conversations that the families have as they watch the same shows you’ve watched in the last week are often eerily similar to your own. Who WASN’T screaming at their mum during the Dr Who finale? This is a TV show with a real community feel – that could just as easily be you and your family on the telly, and we think that’s why we love it so much. We get these families. And they make us feel slightly more normal about the rubbish we spout in front of the telly (and all the takeaways we eat – thanks Sandra and Sandy!)

 

The posh couple

We first saw Steph and Dom on Four in a Bed, the ultimate B&B competition, where they out-poshed everyone in sight. When they flopped onto their sofa with their amazing tiny sausage dog and whatever booze was to hand last year, we fell even more in love. We love that they’re sizzled 78% of the time. We love that they hold hands as they watch the telly. We love that they hate almost everyone on their TVs. Steph, Dom – you are incredible. Don’t ever change.

 

The goth kid that doesn’t speak

Who is the boy with the frizzy hair? Has he ever said a word? Has he ever shown emotion? He’s the ultimate enigma. And we want to know EVERYTHING about him. Then maybe help tame his mane.

Gogglebox starts this Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.

Images courtesy of Channel 4 Television

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