Gogglebox – the show with the least promising premise, but most magical outcome – is back on our screens with the sixth series this week, enabling British telly watchers to watch other British telly watchers watch the telly. Honestly, it’s genius.
The show’s everyday families, friends and housemates returning this Friday include the hilariously loud south London friends Sandy and Sandra, who drink out of old Pot Noodle cups; the Moffats from County Durham, including daughter Scarlett who says things like ‘At uni we used to drink our piss all the time – this is shit’ when watching Bear Gryll’s The Island; and Steph and Dom, the posh couple from Sandwich who are never not drunk.
On his search for unashamedly honest yet loveable and relatable participants to join the show before its first ever series back in 2013, a casting producer arrived at a Toni and Guy salon in Brighton. After explaining why they were there, the receptionist pointed across the room to Chris, one half of the show’s quick-witted Brighton duo Chris and Stephen.
‘I shouted a load of abuse down the salon at her and she absolutely loved me,’ Chris recalled when we spoke to him earlier this week.
Along with his colleague of over 10 years, fellow hairstylist Stephen, the friends have been bitching, crying and blurting out comedy gold in every series since. EE love the pair so much, they even wrote them into an advert with Kevin Bacon. Kevin gets airlifted out of Chris’s front garden after borrowing a pair of shorts. Obviously.
Here’s what happened when we caught up with them both…
First things first – let’s talk about the advert with Kevin Bacon.
Chris: Oh! The shorts!
Stephen: They still haven’t been washed and we sniff them on a daily basis.
Chris: No we don’t! I still have the shorts. They used my actual shorts. I wish I’d got him to sign them. There’s that game, isn’t there? Six degrees from Kevin Bacon? We’re one degree!
Stephen: When we met (Kevin), we’d just had breakfast and my breath stunk of coffee! I was trying to read my lines without breathing.
Chris: I had to say my line, ‘How can we ever repay you?’ and after I’d said it about 750 times in a row they turned round and said, ‘We’re going to mix it up a bit – can you say, “Yeah” before your line?’. So then I had to think about adding, ‘yeah’ into it with Kevin Bacon’s big blue eyes staring right at me. I kept saying, ‘yeah’ and then I forgot the rest! He was actually feeding me my lines!
The show’s brought everyone involved a lot of attention, what’s your favourite thing to come out of it all?
Stephen: Well, the advert was shot in New York…
Chris: Yeah, they flew us business class!
Stephen: We stayed there for five days, filmed for two days and had three days just running around New York. It was amazing. I mean, who would of thought sitting on the coach swearing, farting and burping would get us to New York with Kevin Bacon?
Do you watch the show when it’s on?
Both: YEAH!
Have you met any of the other Goggleboxers?
Stephen: Only the Michaels.
Who are your favourites?
Stephen: I love Leon and June and I love the Siddiquis, but Scarlett Moffatt’s my favourite.
Chris: Yes! I love Scarlett as well.
Stephen: She’s invited us to Newcastle. We’d love a night out with her.
What TV shows are you most looking forward to watching this series?
Stephen: *Downton Abbey. *It’s the last one, innit? Hopefully, it’ll be like Dynasty and they’ll all get killed…
Chris: I’m looking forward to Strictly and I’m actually looking forward to X Factor for a change, too. I’ve been watching and there are so many good acts on it. I’ve been saying for years that they should have people on who can bloody sing rather than gimmicks.
Tell us about your craziest fan moment?
Stephen: I think the craziest was in Belfast – this woman come screaaaaming down the road shouting, ‘I LOVE YOU!!’. It was quite frightening.
Chris: Yes. It was.
What do you think it is people love about watching you guys?
Stephen: I think it’s my boyish good looks. Chris just talks a load of shit, doesn’t he?
Chris: It’s our banter! We’ve got good banter.
You two have great chemistry, you bounce off each other very well.
Chris: I used to bounce off Stephen a lot more, but he’s lost weight now!
Speaking of – let’s talk TV snacks. You guys always have the best, what’re your favourites?
Chris: Stephen’s favourite is anything I buy in that week.
Stephen: It was donuts and Haribo, but this year I’m on a strict diet. When I saw myself last season I looked huge! So I’ve gone on a diet and I’m seeing a personal trainer three times a week.
Chris: I’m doing my bit to support my friend Stephen by not buying him any sweets this series. But we will see how long that lasts.
Chris, you’ve adopted some new puppies! Will we see them next series?
Chris: Of course! When my boyfriend and I turned up to buy them we were handed one each and couldn’t choose. They’re twins – how can you separate twin puppies?! We had to buy both of them.
Stephen: Yeah, they’ll be shitting everywhere. Can’t wait.
Googlebox is back on Friday 11 September at 9pm, Channel 4.
Like this? Then you might also be interested in:
MIC LA 5: Jess Is A Big Tease, Salads Are Covered In Cheese And JP Gets A Dressing Down From Louise
You’ve Got To Pitta Pocket Or Two: The Great British Bake Off Episode Five
Follow Helena on Twitter @HezzleHazzle
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.