The latest series of Celebrity Gogglebox kicked of on Friday night, with stars including Stacey Solomon, Harry Redknapp and Martin Kemp taking part.
However, viewers were left furious as the stars seemingly broke social distancing rules as they mingled with others from different households.
Fans took to social media to share their confusion as the famous faces critiqued the week’s TV with people they don’t live with, with one asking: ‘How is this OK?’
Confused: Celebrity Gogglebox viewers were left furious as the stars seemingly broke social distancing rules as they mingled with others from different households (pictured Ashley Roberts and Jamie Theakston)
The episode saw couples including Stacey and Joe Solomon and Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford taking part, with these couples living together.
But viewers were more concerned for stars who clearly do not live in the same household, such as Ashley Roberts and Jamie Theakston, as well as Bez and Shaun Ryder.
And though all the celebrities were sitting two metres apart as per the rules, fans were annoyed that they were sitting in the homes of their pals, despite the government’s rules saying that this is not allowed.
Rule breaking? And though all the celebrities were sitting two metres apart as per the rules, fans were annoyed that they were sitting in the homes of their pals, despite the government’s rules saying that this is not allowed
Taking to Twitter, fans shared their frustrations as one wrote: ‘I’m sure half these people don’t live together? How are they filming without social distancing rules?’
While another tweeted: ‘So those in Gogglebox are “social distancing”, but those in the same house who CLEARLY don’t live together are still breaking the rules by being in someone else’s house! How is this ok?!’
A third confused watcher questioned: ‘can i go round someones house then as long as im recording something.’
Allowed: The episode saw couples including Stacey and Joe Solomon and Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford taking part, with these couples living together
‘So if you appear on #celebritygogglebox it appears you don’t have to follow the rules on isolation like the rest of us. No way do all of these live in the same house’ ranted a fourth.
‘Is it adhering to social distancing when they’re in each others houses? I don’t get this’ fumed a fifth viewer.
With another adding: ‘You might want to research the rules properly before proclaiming that people are obeying social distancing. People who don’t live together are not allowed in the same house. Being 2 metres apart is not a way of circumventing he rules.’
All good: There were no complaints about Ruth and Eamonn seeing as they are a married couple who live in the same household
However, a Celebrity Gogglebox spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline: ‘All those involved in filming Celebrity Gogglebox are doing so safely following industry production guidelines.’
While show star Gyles Brandreth explained how they adhered to the rules, telling a fan on Twitter: ‘1. It’s work because it’s a TV show: we stay 2 metres apart & there’s no one else in the building.’
It was announced last month that a horde of celebrities will be taking to their sofas for a new all-star version of the popular series.
Not impressed: Fans took to social media to share their confusion as the famous faces critiqued the week’s TV with people they don’t live with, with one asking: ‘How is this ok?’
Love Island’s Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling were on the line-up as were DJ Zoe Ball and her son Woody.
Other stars also include Nick Grimshaw and his niece Liv, boxer Nicola Adams and her partner Ella Baig, as well as returning couch potatoes Denise van Outen and her partner Eddie Boxshall.
While newbies included Harry Redknapp and his beloved wife Sandra.
Cast: It was announced last month that a horde of celebrities will be taking to their sofas for a new all-star version of the popular series, with Love Island’s Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling in the line-up
With the UK in lockdown, its thought the stars will occassionally be watching repeated shows, with Denise commenting: ‘It would be nice to see some of the iconic soap episodes. Scott and Charlene’s wedding from Neighbours especially.’
This follows the lacklustre reaction the American version of Celebrity Gogglebox received when it aired on E4 in the UK two weeks ago.
The show managed to wheel out some big household names, such as the Osbourne family, Tyra Banks, Rob Lowe and Meghan Trainor, but the rest of the line-up left viewers wondering who they were, branding their sofa-bound banter ‘painful to watch’.
Familiar faces: Denise van Outen and her partner Eddie Boxshall returned for another stint after starring in the previous series
While Sharon, Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne watched scenes from Indiana Jones, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Dr Pimple Popper from the comfort of their Beverly Hills cinema room, Tyra, Rob and Meghan lounged about with family members who lacked any interesting TV critiquing skills.
The rest of the line-up included names not well known in the UK, such as Joe Buck, JoJo Siwa, Steve Wozniak, Curtis Stone, and Robert and Kym Herjavec.
Tweets soon materialised slamming the hour-long episode, which is the first in a new series and narrated by Craig Cash of regular Gogglebox UK.
Not as good: E4 debuted its American version of Celebrity Gogglebox recently – but viewers were mostly left unmoved by it