Is it right for a sitting Prime Minister to appear on Gogglebox?
No law or Ofcom rule stops a serving politician appearing on a non-news TV programme such as Gogglebox, provided no election is under way and the programme otherwise follows the Broadcasting Code. Andy Burnham, Prime Minister since July 2026, is due to appear on Friday 23 October in a Stand Up To Cancer celebrity special filmed in Downing Street, alongside Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram. Jeremy Corbyn appeared in 2017 and Nigel Farage in a 2014 spin-off, but Burnham would be the first sitting PM. Farage's spokesman said he would happily do it again.
3 Opinions
Andy Burnham is ridiculous, the man is so insignificant it doesn't even warrant an opinion. But let's be honest it's Gogglebox...... What's he going to talk about? Approved snacks?
I have no objections to anyone having downtime from their day job, but such a blatant and public indulgence in absolute trivia suggests the PM isn't keeping busy enough at a time when the nation is facing so many stresses and serious problems. It is beyond insulting to everyone else who has to work to the point of exhaustion to keep things afloat.
It’s neither right nor wrong. It’s a political stunt which will delight his fans and astound his enemies. Some politicians are great at this kind of thing. Most, unsurprisingly aren’t.