Gogglebox stars Lee and Keith: We get recognised everywhere we go
GOGGLEBOX Australia’s lovably ocker couple, Lee and Keith, are two of the fly-on-the-wall reality show’s most entertaining players — and their choice of living room decor has been a long-running source of amusement for fans of the program, which launches its sixth season tonight.
Week after week, the pair sit down to watch television on a living room sofa laden with towels.
Lee, who’s been married to her council worker husband for 32 years, tells news.com.au that the towels were a matter of necessity.
“The only reason I’ve got towels: Keith will read the paper and get black ink on his hands, then he’ll touch the couch. Then his head, because he’s got no hair, it sweats,” she says.
“I spill stuff, and she tells me off. But everyone spills stuff!” Keith protests.
“I don’t spill anything, Keith. What? What have I spilt? Nothing? Yeah, exactly. For Keith, I put the towel down. But he still spills beer on the couch. It’s ruined. We’re getting a new couch at the end of October.”
You heard it here first, folks.
A surprise success story, given its truly meta concept — who’d want to watch a bunch of everyday people while they watch television? — Gogglebox has had a huge effect on Lee and Keith’s lives since it started airing in early 2015.
“We get recognised everywhere we go,” says Lee.
“We go shopping, we have to put an extra hour on. That’s how long it takes — but everyone’s fantastic,” says Keith.
The pair say they’re frequently approached by similarly long-married couples who see themselves in Lee and Keith and their playful, affectionate teasing.
“They all say they’re just like us. They’re our double dobbers … is that what you call it?” asks Keith.
Lee tries to help her husband out.
“Double dobbers? What does that mean? Keith, I don’t think you’ve got it right.”
Uh, doppelgangers?
“That’s it! You know what I meant.”
Lee admitted she was terrified at the prospect of appearing on TV week in week out, and had to be talked into Gogglebox by an entirely up-for-it Keith.
“I said no, no, no. I don’t like getting my photo taken, let alone be on TV. Keith said, just listen to what the lady has to say. ‘It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity Lee, let’s see how we go’. I was so panicky,” she says.
And now?
“It’s great. But people go, ‘Oh, you’re famous.’ No we’re not, we just sit on a couch!”
The strict rules placed on the Gogglebox households by producers ensure they don’t get swept up in their new-found fame. Each household is paid a nominal fee for shooting, media appearances are kept to a minimum, and families are not allowed to meet each other. Gogglebox won the Logie for Best Factual Program for the past two years in a row — its stars watched from home.
Lee and Keith said they’re keen to meet all their fellow Goggleboxers one day.
“I think once it’s over, we all need to go have a drink and a party,” says Keith.
For now, they’ll continue letting us all watch them watch telly — Lee’s even making a valiant effort to get in to Game of Thrones.
“Everyone keeps talking about it so I thought, oh all right, I’ll watch it. I’ve watched a couple of episodes ... I’m trying,” she sighs.
“But I love Survivor, I’m mad for it. I’ve watched all the American ones.”
Would she consider jumping ship from Gogglebox to appear on that reality show?
“Oh, no. I’d probably starve to death because I don’t like rice or beans. I’d be no good on that.”
The new season of Gogglebox Australia premieres Wednesday, 4 October At 7.30pm on Foxtel’s Lifestyle and Thursday, 5 October at 8.30pm On TEN And WIN Network.
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