Former Gogglebox participant Stephen Webb has disclosed that cast members received guidance to be harsh towards political figures, a revelation surfacing just days after the Channel 4 programme became embroiled in accusations of political bias.
Speaking via Heart Bingo Online, Mr Webb explained the unwritten rules that governed the show's approach to different subjects.
"There was the general rule of, you took it easy on normal people, ripped the celebrities a little bit and slaughtered the politicians!" he stated.
The admission comes amid mounting criticism following Friday's broadcast, during which cast members offered predominantly negative commentary, prompting viewers to accuse the programme of presenting a "one-sided" and "inflammatory" perspective with apparent "left-wing" leanings.
Stephen Webb opened up on filming for Gogglebox
|GETTY
The controversy centred on the cast's reactions to an ITV News report detailing President Donald Trump's address following the joint operation with Israel that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, along with subsequent Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
Giles Wood suggested Trump's timing was motivated by poor polling numbers, telling his partner Mary: "Well, (Trump) needs to do it now, Nutty, because of his poll ratings going very badly."
Sophie from Blackpool offered a particularly vivid characterisation, describing the US president as a "dog that's still on the lead but foaming at the mouth."
One member of the Kent family speculated the military action was designed to distract from the Epstein files, while Michael sarcastically mocked Trump's call for Iranian civilians to rise against their leadership.
Stephen Webb starred in the Channel 4 show for 10 years
|CHANNEL 4
Elsewhere, Mr Webb also opened up on his decision to leave the popular show.
"I think it just felt right," he admitted, adding: "It was the 10 year anniversary.
"We had a big cast party for 10 years, and it just felt right. I always said I'll do it for 10 years and that'll be it.
"With anything in life, I love change, and I just thought it'd come to a natural end.
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"If I'd stayed, I would have missed other opportunities.
"We were getting offered opportunities along the way, and we always turned them down.
"After 10 years, I thought, ‘Well, I've enjoyed my time on Gogglebox, but now let's explore other opportunities’, so that's what I did."
Mr Webb also reflected on how the programme has evolved since its inception, recalling that he initially doubted the concept would succeed.
Stephen Webb and ex Chris Steed, who featured on Gogglebox with him, in 2017
|GETTY
"When it first started, we never really knew what the premise of the show was," he told Heart Bingo Online.
"They kept it all quite quiet for a while and when they kind of did describe it, I thought, 'oh, that sounds a bit boring, watching people just watch telly.'"
The former cast member noted the show originally aired on Wednesdays at 10pm, allowing for edgier content given the later timeslot.
"I would say it was a little bit more risque back then," Webb explained. "Now it's 9pm on a Friday, you've got to be a little bit careful because it's only just past that watershed."
He acknowledged that shifting social attitudes have also influenced what makes it to air, noting that remarks acceptable a decade ago would likely be cut today.