'Gogglebox' exhibition comes to Yorkshire to look at TV watching habits

It was an unlikely hit. Gogglebox is a television programme which watches people watching television.
Jonathan Pritchard
By Jonathan Pritchard
Published 15th Oct 2022, 16:00 BST
Updated 21st Oct 2022, 09:16 BST

But this unusual concept regularly draws millions of viewers and has turned the participants into television celebrities.

Now the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford has launched a photography exhibition showcasing the television-watching habits of local families and individuals.

As part of our larger Broadcast 100 celebrations across the Science Museum Group, we commissioned two photographers to take portraits inspired by the hit television show on Channel 4 to commemorate its 40th anniversary on November 2.

A Gogglebox exhibition is coming to YorkshireA Gogglebox exhibition is coming to Yorkshire
A Gogglebox exhibition is coming to Yorkshire

A museum spokesman said: “To mark the 40th anniversary of Channel 4 in 2022, we commissioned local photographers to take portraits of residents at home relaxing and watching TV with their families, friends and pets.

"We found people watching all kinds of media, from movies to video games, in locations as diverse as living rooms, beds and barbershops.”Whether sharing the nostalgia of childhood cartoons, following overseas dramas or just catching up on the news, watching TV is still something we all enjoy sharing.”

The launch event included the participants from the exhibition along with their families as well as the commissioned photographers.

Gogglebox is a British reality television series created by Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt, and Tania Alexander, and broadcast on Channel 4.

The series documents families and groups of friends around the United Kingdom who are filmed for their observations and reactions to the previous week's television from their own homes.

The first series launched in 2013, and the show began airing its 19th series on February 18. The show was narrated by Caroline Aherne from its launch until her death in July 2016, after which Craig Cash took over. The show has won numerous awards. In 2014 and 2022, it won a BAFTA in the Reality & Constructed Factual category.

From 2015 to 2018, in 2021 and in 2022, it won a National Television Award. The success of Gogglebox spawned three spin-off series, including a version featuring children (Gogglesprogs), a version featuring 16 to 24-year-olds as they watch online content (Vlogglebox), and a version featuring celebrities (Celebrity Gogglebox).