Is Gogglebox scripted?

Thanks everyone - really good cross section of opinions and to read them has certainly challenged my way of thinking (as reading GN comment often does - that’s why I love GN so much!).

I wonder if they were wary about what they said about Megan and Harry as some people take offence very easily and they could have complaints against them. The fact that they all felt the same makes me wonder if they was told what they could or couldn't say. As let's face it everyone has a different opinion, and realistically should be allowed to say it. My daughter and myself certainly disagree about them.

What on earth would be the point of telling them what to say -
crazy! We are not told what to do in the U.K., maybe some other parts of the world but certainly we are still free to ‘think’ alone!!

sorry I can only find this link of it, oh dear I am sitting here laughing again

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/video/tvandshowbiz/french-and-saunders-in-spot-on-impression-of-goggleboxs-giles-and-mary/

Ha ha- yes I’d forgotten about that!. I miss F & S- so funny

I REALLY LOVED the French and Saunders sketch on Giles and Mary where she camoflauges into the chair and wallpaper. Everytime I think of it, I just laugh and that is what light entertainment is supposed to be about imo

I do watch it and find myself laughing out loud at a lot of it especially the bro & sister. However, I do think it’s got a bit too political but then again, it is on “right on” Chanel 4

I love gogglebox also, but I must admit the last two episodes have been a bit boring

Yes, insulting people was completely off subject and totally unnecessary. I quite agree.

Well I was involved in the fat shaming discussions so I'll say this again.

The Original Post was suggesting that people were being told to act as though they had certain opinions that could then be passed off as their own. So being told to lie, basically. All because no-one could possibly believe Meghan, could they?

So, not light hearted at all, although it has turned into an "I love so-and-so" discussion.

And I going to keep calling out discriminatory language and attitudes wherever I see them, whether in a "light hearted" post or not.

langelei

Why, oh why was this originally lighthearted post allowed to be reduced to a name-calling, lengthy discussion on weight. Completely off subject and unnecessary. Come on, lighten up, take certain subjects with a pinch of salt - life is too short.

Thank you - exactly what I was thinking!

I was one of those who scoffed at the idea of a programme about people watching programmes.

Good friend of mine was constantly telling me to give it a chance and I was amazed at how much I enjoyed it.

I like all the characters. Leon and June are missed.

I remember Scarlett Moffatt getting a hard time for being famous just for being famous and not being too bright. She has a 2:1 from York St John University and worked as a research analyst.

We shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Sparkling

Luca, I don’t like the bad language and most of them seem a bit dim and not interested in their opinions. Just not my sort of programme, however I know lots like it, like Married it at First sight I just wouldn’t be interested, good job we are all different.

Yes fair enough not to like it but to say most had missed out on schooling was a)judgmental and b) completely inaccurate !

I was quite vocal on the other thread on GN re that interview in defending Meghan and Harry. GN and my peers (55-65 white women) on Facebook were pretty much 98% against Meghan (& Harry to a lesser extent), although younger members of groups and forums I'm on were generally sympathetic and concerned re the mental health issue and that race comment.

I find it extraordinary that there are posts on here about how Gogglebox must be scripted because GN were almost universally against Meghan (& again, Harry to a lesser extent).

Many of my Facebook friends "flooded" Facebook with photos of the Queen before the interview aired because, obviously, they'd read newspaper articles and made the decision MM was a bad 'un before watching (and many declaring they wouldn't be watching, didn't stop them from slagging the poor girl off).

One made a comment on a red top newspapers Facebook page accusing MM of liable as MM hadn't heard the race comment herself but through Harry. My friend hadn't watched all the interview, just made that little gem up herself.

More than one person unfriended last week. Can't be doing with small minds. Honestly, I don't know if GN is the place for me, I picked up on a comment last year on another Meghan and Harry thread (there's been so many) where I called someone out for what I saw as a racist comment in saying (quote) "Harry had gone to the dark side" and I was universally shouted down.

I’ve watched it from the beginning and I do think the reactions have become more extreme. Nobody leaps into the air screaming at a tv programme do they?
I love the Siddiqis (?) but most of the others are becoming a bit tiresome now. I can’t bear Pete, of Pete and Sophie, the brother and sister, there’s something creepy about him.
Don’t mind Lee and his friend in the caravan. The family with the huge dogs and the carefully arranged plate of cakes are funny too.
I don’t think it’s scripted, just edited.
I really enjoy the celebrity versions, especially the one with Chris Eubank and his son, Martin Kemp and son and Emilia Fox and her mum, who is a bit over the top. My all time favourite was Olly Alexander and his mum. He was like a gleeful little boy.

Maybe they did, but the vast majority of people did not believe her!

I have always enjoyed Gogglebox, but I too have thought recently that there is a certain amount of scripting or guidance as to what to say.

There used to be more balanced reactions to the programmes they watch, but now there just seems to be one opinion held by all, which just doesn’t happen in normal life.

Gogglebox makes me laugh out loud, really laugh out loud and my favourites are Mary and Giles.

Is it scripted? probably exaggerated. My partner won't watch it, so I record it.

I am now watching it again and after watching the 'interview' for the second time I am more convinced than ever the 'truth' is not being told.

Truth will out

Luca, I don’t like the bad language and most of them seem a bit dim and not interested in their opinions. Just not my sort of programme, however I know lots like it, like Married it at First sight I just wouldn’t be interested, good job we are all different.

I find it quite interesting that there have been a lot of posts along the lines of "I can't believe its not scripted, they all believed Meghan". Whereas last week as I pointed out, they were all ripping into Harry for the interview with James Corden. As someone corrected my above as well, they didn't believe she hadn't googled Harry and the RF.

Maybe they just all believed Meghan when she said she was suicidal and didn't get the help she needed. Its not beyond the realms of possibility.

It is a channel 4 program . Also it was probably in there interest to say they agreed , so they didn't get back lash on there social media accounts .

I thought it was strange that they all had simular opinions.

I don't think it is scripted. I have watched it a few times. I have noticed a lot of intelligent comments made by the people taking part. They are definitely not people with little between the ears as one poster suggested.

I'm sure I heard one of the families say something like 'well I can believe all this now we know more about what goes on with the RF'. It made me wonder how many people now feel they know the RF well because of The Crown?

Some of the reactions to the excerpts of The Crown the Gogglebox families have been shown, have made me feel that they think it is a documentary and not a work of fiction!

To answer the question, I don't think it is scripted but it's pretty obvious that the families are encouraged to make lots of comments. We have to pause the programmes we watch to make comments on them! Great timesaver for rubbish programmes though, I'd never watch Love Island but at least I know what my kids are talking about!