TV

Gogglebox fans fume as they accuse Malones of breaking Covid rules for birthday


Gogglebox viewers were left scratching their heads on Friday evening after they watched the Malone family celebrate Tom Senior’s birthday.

Fans of the Channel 4 show are reminded at the start of each episode that the stars are sticking to social distancing rules to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

The country has been allowed to meet outdoors with up to six people, or as many people as belong to two households, since March 29.

At the start of the latest episode, Tom was spotted celebrating turning another year older with his wife Julie, son Shaun, daughter Vanessa and three grandchildren.



The Malone family on Gogglebox
The Malones celebrated Tom Sr’s birthday during Friday’s edition of Channel 4 series Gogglebox

A customised birthday cake was placed on the coffee table, in place of the Malones’ signature dishes of buns and biscuits.

The grandkids sang to their grandfather, before helping Tom Sr to blow out the candles on his birthday cake as part of the family gathering.

However, eagle-eyed viewers were quick to pick up on the apparent breach of the rules.

Taking to Twitter, one fan ranted: “How do you explain the opening birthday party tonight? You must not meet indoors with anybody you do not live with, unless you have formed a support bubble with them (if you are eligible), or another legal exemption applies.”



The Malone family on Gogglebox
Viewers were quick to question if the family were breaking social distancing rules

Another added: “‘Everyone on the show keeps their social distance’, No they don’t.”

A third person posted: “‘Everyone’s keeping their social distance’. Sure looks like it.”

While a fourth person said: “Nice social distancing from the Malone’s there!”

Others rushed to their keyboards to admire the sweet birthday celebration.

One viewer tweeted: “That’s a sick cake Grandad Malone. Is that what we call you now?”

A second person said: “The Malones grandkids have got so big.”



Vanessa Malone made her television debut on Gogglebox tonight
Julie has previously addressed their living arrangements in a statement online

“Happy birthday Mr Malone,” another added

It’s not the first time the famous family have received criticism online since the social distancing rules were put in place last year.

Following the previous backlash, Julie issued a statement on social media, which read: “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.

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

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Vanessa, who works for the NHS as a critical care nurse, has three little ones – Saoirse, Brogan and Harley.

Living at home with Tom and Julie, the three school kids are close with their grandparents, with Vanessa previously thanking her parents for their help during the pandemic.

“Always smiling with Grandad. We are so lucky to live with my parents at a time like this,” she wrote on social media.

“Being a single mum who is a critical care nurse I would have really struggled to continue working during this pandemic had it not been for my parents looking after the rascals for me.”

Gogglebox airs Fridays on Channel 4 at 9pm





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