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Gogglebox fame damaged my family and even my finances – it was exploitative and I resorted to lying just to get away from it

BBG News

The presenter on Radio 2, Reverend Kate Bottley, disclosed that she left the TV program Gogglebox due to its negative impact on her family’s household dynamics and because staying involved with it was becoming financially burdensome for her.

Bottley, who became popular on the program, mentioned that despite her departure being explained as a temporary one, leading spectators to assume she’d be back, she actually had no plans to return.

Initially unsure if participating would become all-consuming, Bottley decided to join the show with the intention of altering the general viewpoint towards religious individuals. However, she later described it as a form of “consenting exploitation.

She mentioned that her son Arthur, diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and daughter Ruby, still attending school, often lacked assistance with their homework and social interaction with peers because they were confined to their rooms during periods when a big team was working at their house.

Mealtimes at home became less routine, due to the contrasting characters between her and her spouse often leading to online disagreements visible to the public.

Initially, Bottley was invited by Channel 4 to participate in their show, which features people expressing their views on TV programs, following the widespread popularity of a video from a 2013 wedding ceremony she officiated, during which she danced exuberantly to Kool & the Gang’s ‘Celebration’.

She amassed over eight million views on YouTube, which led to her and her husband Graham securing a Gogglebox contract the year after, and they continued to feature in the show for five seasons until 2016.

She mentioned that she decided to be part of the program with the intention of altering the general viewpoint towards individuals of faith, as she believed they’re often portrayed unfavorably on television, either in negative news reports or as being strange or eccentric.

Bottley said: ‘I wish I’d known how much it took over our life for two and a half years.

‘It’s reality TV, it’s by its nature consensual exploitation.

They entered your house for filming purposes, which felt quite invasive. Yet, we allowed this invasion of privacy, though I wasn’t entirely aware of the specifics. My children spent nearly two-and-a-half years confined in their rooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or any nights they came to shoot.

My children often spent a considerable amount of time without playmates, and rarely received assistance with their assignments. Matters such as these.

‘And we got paid very little.

‘They paid, but I cooked two nights a week for the crew.

I’m wedded to a fellow who abstains from takeout meals, and I’m not comfortable being videotaped while eating. So, when the opportunity for filming came up, I simply opted to prepare the meal myself.

The proceeds from selling casseroles and chilis were utilized primarily for covering the electricity, internet, groceries, and accommodating six guests in my house twice a week, making our home more welcoming.

The building also serves as a parsonage, so it seems fitting that we extend hospitality. Sharing our abode with others and enjoying meals together appears to be an appropriate practice here.

For nearly three years, things went exceptionally well, yet we found ourselves reaching a tipping point where we became slightly overburdened.

Besides the small earnings she shared with Graham mysteriously vanishing, Bottley’s cheerful demeanor led to more profitable television opportunities that were less invasive arising – however, while under contract with Gogglebox, she was prohibited from accepting these offers simultaneously.

She mentioned that there’s a strict rule about exclusivity in this case, as it would be inconsistent and disruptive if the individuals being filmed while relaxing on their couches watching TV were later shown on the TV themselves, blurring the boundary between reality and the screen (the fourth wall).

50-year-old Bottley, with adult children now, shared that intriguing proposals emerged from widely recognized television programs such as Would I Lie To You?

She stated: “I was given opportunities similar to those, but I couldn’t participate due to the fact that Googlebox doesn’t allow for such activities.

The pleasure of the program lies in that very fact – it resonates with the viewers because the characters often embody our own experiences or feelings.

As soon as they appear on television, it’s all over. There were opportunities for tasks I wished to engage with, but due to contractual restrictions, I simply couldn’t take part.

Although some viewers admired Bottley’s charismatic demeanor, others felt she tended to outshine her spouse.

On the Walking the Dog podcast, she remarked, “In the past, we often faced comments such as ‘You never let your husband talk.’ It was quite shocking. One needs to be cautious; unconscious bias towards women, or misogyny, seems to be surfacing.

As a devoted supporter, I believe it’s crucial to avoid stereotypes. Just because a woman is more assertive than her quieter husband doesn’t necessarily mean he’s being dominated or ‘henpecked.’ His quiet nature shouldn’t be mistaken for submission; he may simply express himself differently.

‘In any relationship there’s someone that is more outgoing.’

Kate mentioned that, given her background of talking in large groups, it would naturally make her feel more at ease when speaking on television.

Ultimately, the family devised a reason for taking a hiatus from the sequence, keeping secret that they had no intention of coming back.

Kate explained that their trip coincided with when Ruby was taking her GCSE exams, so they used the explanation, “We plan to take a break during this period while she focuses on her exams.

However, Kate said Googlebox did serve to raise her public profile.

Initially, she gained the status of a regular cast member on “Songs of Praise.” Later, she appeared in various television programs and became recognized across BBC radio networks. Meanwhile, Graham resumed his career as a music instructor.

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2025-06-26 17:34

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