Why viewers lose a month down the sofa

Published on Thursday 17 September 2009 19:55

FORGETFUL Britons spend one month of their lives looking for the television remote control.

The average viewer loses it an average of 3.2 times a week and spends more than four minutes looking for it each time.

That means each week we spend 15 minutes hunting for the pesky little device – nearly 13 hours each year – or 31 days during the average adult lifetime.

Kathryn Drought, of Sky, who led the study of 4,000 Britons to launch the broadcaster's Free Weekend Pass, said: "The remote control is such a well-used item in the nation's homes.

"It's one of those things we're forever trying to find – normally down the back of the sofa.

"TV plays such a big part in our lives. It's not surprising who is in control of the remote is such a hot household topic.''

The nationwide survey also uncovered remote-control politics. Three in ten respondents admitted hiding the remote from a partner or housemate, and 17 per cent have thrown it at someone in a fit of "remote rage".

Households argued at least four times a month over the remote, with football, channel-hopping and soaps all factors.