Gogglebox controversy over blurred-out Rangers mug

A SCOTTISH family on Channel 4 show Gogglebox have been caught up in a row - after a Rangers mug on a coffee table was blurred out for breaching TV guidelines.
The mug was blurred out on Channel 4s catch-up service Picture: YouTubeThe mug was blurred out on Channel 4s catch-up service Picture: YouTube
The mug was blurred out on Channel 4s catch-up service Picture: YouTube

The Manuel family are the newest people to join the hit Channel 4 show. From Glasgow but currently living in Croyden, Charles, 54, wife Donna, 48, and son Grant, 19, were filmed in a scene with a Bridgeton Loyal Supporters Club cup during their debut on Friday night’s show.

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The mug, which wasn’t censored during the Friday night show, has since been blurred out on the Channel 4s catch up service, saying that it breached “promotional” rules.

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The mug originally appeared unblurred on the Friday night show Picture: YouTubeThe mug originally appeared unblurred on the Friday night show Picture: YouTube
The mug originally appeared unblurred on the Friday night show Picture: YouTube

A user named @gourlay10 said: “So channel 4 have blurred out the guy on gogglebox’s coffee mug because people have complained it’s a Rangers one. What a sad existence.”

While @goldenlast wrote: “That excuse is quite clearly nonsense. An old fella constantly has his Everton mug sitting in front of him.”

Channel 4 said the decision was taken because promotional items were not allowed to appear in the programme.

But the Bridgeton Supporters’ Club protested the move in a Facebook post, saying: “You can tell the level of hate out there for us when a mug causes a stooshie.

The mug originally appeared unblurred on the Friday night show Picture: YouTubeThe mug originally appeared unblurred on the Friday night show Picture: YouTube
The mug originally appeared unblurred on the Friday night show Picture: YouTube

“It has absolutely nothing offensive on it. It’s a copy of our 24ft x 24ft banner which we take to games and has been checked by Rangers officials and Police Scotland.”

After complaints to the network, Channel 4 released a statement saying: “We apologise for any offence caused by this oversight which breached protocols on promotional items app­earing on the show.

“As soon as we became aware we took immediate action to ensure it was no longer visible in re­peats or on All 4.”