Celebrities SUTC once again in Gogglebox

So which do you prefer, Celebrity Gogglebox or the ‘civilian’ version from which it is derived?

The nation appears to be torn on the matter, with some viewers claiming that if they’re going to watch someone else watching TV, then it might as well be someone famous.

Admittedly, over past couple of years there have been some brilliant moments on the star-studded version.

Who can forget Giles Brandreth explaining the concept of “fanny flutters” to Shelia Hancock, or Chris Eubank feeling the grooves of the Love Island theme tune and channelling his inner Barry White?

Then there was Martin Kemp laughing a little too hard at THAT American Pie scene with his son Roman, and Denise van Outen’s constant stream of innuendo, including asking her partner Eddie about her “fluffy bits” after the couple watched Supervet.

But everyone’s favourite famous armchair critics have to be Happy Mondays duo Shaun Ryder and Bez.

When the former proudly showed off the jumpers he had knitted for the ‘battery’ chickens that he hadn’t even adopted yet, it was undeniably TV gold.

But despite these entertainment pearls, there are still some viewers and critics who say that the Celeb-strewn strand of the show lacks the authenticity of the original Gogglebox. After all, wasn’t the whole idea of the show to get members of the public watching other ‘ordinary’ members of the public?

Over the years, we’ve all become obsessed with the likes of Jenny and Lee, Pete and Sophie, Giles and Mary, the Michaels, the Malones and the Siddiquis.

Their little quirks, pets, mugs and choice of biscuits have entranced the nation and turned many of them into stars in their own right.

The ‘Celeb v Actual’ debate will continue to rage on, but regardless of which version of the show is your favourite, fans will be delighted that the multi award-winning show that made it cool to stay home and sit on your sofa is back tonight for a new one-off Stand Up To Cancer special.

In recent years, the sofa dwellers have included Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, Naomi Campbell and Noel Gallagher, the Whitehalls, the Perrys, Danny and Dani Dyer, England footballers Dele Alli and Eric Dier and One Direction’s Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson. So who will be joining them this year to pass judgement on the latest TV?

Unfortunately, apart from Celebrity Gogglebox favourites Mo Gilligan and Babatunde Aleshe, we won’t know until very close to or, even during, transmission who will be joining them. However, if previous editions are anything to go by, viewers should expect a few tears as well as a lot of laughs. The stars are usually shown clips of programmes and short films relating to the devastating effects of disease in the hope that it will raise funds and awareness.

And the result is the perfect Gogglebox combination – thought-provoking emotion and heartwarming humour.

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