Gogglebox hit by 208 Ofcom complaints about social distancing as fans accuse families of ‘breaking the rules’

GOGGLEBOX has been hit by 208 Ofcom complaints about social distancing after viewers accused families of ‘breaking the rules’.

Last month the Channel 4 show defended cast members appearing in the same room together despite not living under the same roof after it came under fire for appearing to break social distancing rules.

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The hit series - which sees its stars across the country react to television from their own homes - decided to put viewers' minds at rest with an announcement on the show.

The announcer said: "Just in case you're worried, they are all keeping to the guidelines of social distancing."

But the move did little to reassure viewers and to date 208 of them have lodged complaints with the media regulator about the lack of social distancing on the show.

An Ofcom spokesperson exclusively told The Sun Online: "We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate."

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Taking to Twitter, fans have revealed they are not convinced.

One viewer hit back: "Ellie & Izzy mouthing off about Lockdown when they've clearly not followed the rules - I'd love to see my sister!"

One more said: "How can the two sisters be moaning about Boris Johnson when they aren't helping the situation, they shouldn't be in contact they live in separate households."

A third commented: "So I watch every week, love it, but when the announcer says they're all following #Govt guidelines #Gogglebox I still scratch my head. 2 sisters in Leeds? 2 brothers in Oldham...maybe they do live together but the sisters don't I've truly misunderstood the guidance re households?"

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Gogglebox was first hit by Ofcom complaints  at the end of April as viewers accused it of breaking government guidelines.

Since then, the Malone family - made up of Tom, Julie, Tom Jnr and Shaun - have also defended themselves insisting they are adhering to distancing rules.

They wrote on Twitter: "Just going to put this out there so we are all up to date, I know the social distancing rules too, I love my Grandkids, I would never put them or anyone else’s health in danger."

The family added: “My daughter and her children live with us, so she can go to work as a nurse.”

Since the lockdown rules came into force, Gogglebox has continued to air with rigged up cameras, to avoid a crew having to be in the cast's homes.

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However, some viewers have been concerned to see that some of the cast are still shooting the show, when they should be in separate homes because they don't live together.

Sisters Ellie and Izzi appear to have sparked the most anger among viewers.

One enraged viewer said on Twitter: "Another week passes where I haven’t seen my family, yet Ellie still pops round to Izzi’s on #Gogglebox."

And one more remarked: "Very confused how Ellie and Izzy are filming #Gogglebox together? They don’t live in the same house."

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Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the show previously told The Sun Online: "Most of the families live together but where they don’t, they are complying with PHE [Public Health England] social distancing guidelines.

“Gogglebox will only film with families where it’s safe to do so. The health and safety of our cast and crew is paramount."

Under government social distancing rules, Brits are banned from going to see members of their family if they live in different homes.