Why the Prime Minister’s appearance on Celebrity Gogglebox missed the mark - Sarah Todd

As the younger generation say, this is probably a ‘me problem’ and the general public couldn’t give a pork scratching (our esteemed leader was munching on them as he watched the week’s television for the Channel 4 programme’s special edition highlighting cancer) about the holder of our country’s finest office being seen sat on a sofa commenting on inane television shows in this way. After all, it was to raise money for a compelling cause. Poor chap, thinking aloud, he can’t do right for doing wrong.

But really? Nobody wanted Burnham to be a stuffshirt like his predecessor and maybe this is the problem our new premier is facing, knowing how far to let the man-of-the-people pendulum swing in the other direction.

Being personable is a real asset, but the marketing men (and women) behind Burnham blur the lines between leader and celebrity at our nation’s peril. It’s just this red-headed reporter’s opinion, but he is either a politician or a personality. The same could be said for princes of the realm, but then they don’t actually have their finger on the button so as to speak.

A little promotion of their own philanthropy is fine, scattering some stardust here and there for charity but then quietly back to business. Traditionally the Royals have done this very well, with the likes of the late Prince Philip highlighting the plight of endangered species of animals through work such as helping to found the World Wildlife Trust up to Queen Camilla and her excellent efforts to get people reading more books.

But Burnham is different. Being a friendly bloke isn’t enough; he is our country’s representative on the world stage and sat on a sofa in jeans and a T-shirt just doesn’t cut the mustard. Surely to goodness, what with all these threats in the modern world (have you got your tinned products and bottled water stashed?) we want somebody sending off serious ‘don’t mess with me or my country’ vibes?

While we’re talking about our nation’s security, senior Government politicians Angela Rayner and Jess Phillips jesting about wine and vapes just wasn’t good enough. Yes, it was quite funny for them to take the rise out of themselves when asked what emergency supplies they would want if the worst ever happened. But that’s the point this missive is trying to make. They shouldn’t be being personable; they’re not contestants on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! they are elected servants of His Majesty’s Government.

Their wages (and expenses) are paid for by those silly sausages among us who still work and pay our taxes. Talk about dinghies dragging our country down the swanny and how you plan on supporting businesses and that increasingly rare species - workers. The lad worried about how much it’s costing to fill up his van with fuel or the hairdresser with skyrocketing business rates and staff costs. That’s the job in hand; not being a personality.

It is a balancing act and, as a country, we can’t have our cake and eat it. It’s not fair to complain about political leaders’ lack of personality and then berate them for being bubbly.

But with all that’s going on in the world, the gut feeling from these quarters is get a suit on (men and women) and look like you mean business. Bits of banter and flashes of bloke-or-ladette-next-door personality can come when we, as a country, are no longer up to our necks in it.

The dictionary definition of a celebrity is ‘a famous or well-known person, particularly in fields such as entertainment, sports, music, film, or digital media.’ So the likes of actor Tom Cruise, singer Sir Elton John and former footballer Sir David Beckham.

A politician, according to the wordsmiths at the Cambridge Dictionary, is: ‘a member of a government or law-making organisation.’ Nowhere do they mention celebrity status.

Thinking aloud, the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing has a lot to answer for.

Politicians pursuing personality status? Nil-points from me.