Channel 4’s hunt for Scottish family for Gogglebox after viewer complaints

The broadcast confirms casting for a Scottish family is already underway
Channel 4
Josh Salisbury17 November 2021

Channel 4 has hired a casting team to find a Scottish family for TV’s Gogglebox after complaints from a politician and viewers.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross had grilled bosses at the broadcaster at a parliamentary committee hearing in September on why there had not been Scots on the show since 2016.

Now Channel 4 has revealed the hunt is underway for “at least one Scottish family who will become part of the Gogglebox cast” to join in the New Year.

Speaking at the Scottish Affairs Committee in Westminster, Mr Ross had said it was “just crazy” there were no Scottish families on the popular show.

He joked he could take part with his wife as he admitted they were big fans of the show, tuning in “every week”.

Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon has written to the committee confirming the search for Scottish participants.

“The casting period is already underway and will run up to Christmas,” she said.

Ms Mahon also revealed of 99 complaints to Channel 4 relating to Scotland in the last year, 49 were about a lack of Scottish representation on the Gogglebox.

“Many of those who contacted us to raise this were getting in touch to put themselves forward,” she said.

Among the other Scottish-related complaints received in the past year were eight complaints about “an overemphasis on the England football team” and “a small number” about Scottish stereotypes in shows including the Great British Bake Off.

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