Gogglebox is doing a better job holding the government to account than the mainstream media

Screengrab from Gogglebox
Emily Apple


Twitter users have noticed something disturbing about Channel 4‘s Gogglebox. Namely that the participants on the show seem to be doing a better job at holding the government to account than the mainstream media:

“What success?”

This was how the Gogglebox households greeted Boris Johnson’s first appearance back at work after his recovery from coronavirus (Covid-19):

Related articles

As Johnson hailed our “apparent success”, those on Gogglebox reflected how many of us are feeling across the country:

What success?…

I think you’ve got that wrong. I think you’ve been in bed too long Boris.

Another woman put it more directly:

It’s been an absolute shambles. It’s a shitshow.

Not everyone was happy

But the Johnson loving Twitter posse was not happy:

Because obviously nearly dying from a disease that he initially underplayed means we should give Johnson a free pass for all the disastrous coronavirus decisions he’s made.

Others enjoyed how much Tories were “losing their shit”:

A better job than the BBC

Meanwhile, several people pointed out that the show did a better job than the BBC and ITV in holding the government to account:

Although this is becoming increasingly easy given even the Daily Mail now appears to be putting the BBC to shame.

The government’s botched response to the coronavirus is a disgrace; a disgrace that has cost thousands of lives. As much as the media – not to mention parts of the supposed opposition – would like us to pull together behind our great and glorious leader, Gogglebox is proof that no-one’s buying the unity bullshit we’re being force-fed on a daily basis.

But while it’s great to see the Gogglebox participants let rip, replicating words many of us are shouting at the TV across the country, it is a sad indictment at the state of the establishment media. The BBC, in particular, appears to be happy to acquiesce to the government’s gaslighting of voters across the country, rewriting the narrative of the pandemic and repeating government lies.

Now, more than ever, we need a media that asks the government difficult questions, that challenges its lies and exposes its incompetences. Unfortunately, it appears that reality TV is doing a better job of this than many establishment journalists.

Featured image via Twitter screengrab

We need your help ...

The coronavirus pandemic is changing our world, fast. And we will do all we can to keep bringing you news and analysis throughout. But we are worried about maintaining enough income to pay our staff and minimal overheads.

Now, more than ever, we need a vibrant, independent media that holds the government to account and calls it out when it puts vested economic interests above human lives. We need a media that shows solidarity with the people most affected by the crisis – and one that can help to build a world based on collaboration and compassion.

We have been fighting against an establishment that is trying to shut us down. And like most independent media, we don’t have the deep pockets of investors to call on to bail us out.

Can you help by chipping in a few pounds each month?

The Canary Support us

Related articles