Carol Vorderman and Gyles Brandreth have opened up about filming Celebrity Gogglebox together as the Channel 4 series returned to TV screens earlier this month.
The former Countdown host joined This Morning's Gyles Brandreth in the Lorraine studio after they featured in last week’s instalment of the programme, after Gyles appeared alongside Joanna Lumley in a previous episode.
The longtime friends explained how they became involved and enjoyed getting the chance to see the shows they may not otherwise have watched.
Gyles said: “It’s good because you’re taken out of your comfort zone. Otherwise I’d only be watching Bargain Hunt and Homes Under the Hammer.”
He continued: “I’ll tell you what is really lovely – I would suggest this seriously to people, particularly if you’re living on your own – get a friend over to watch the TV with you.
“It’s a really nice way of enjoying an evening or an afternoon.”
He added: “We are very old friends, but I had forgotten how easy it was being together.
“It was just fun having a programme to chat about, having the snacks – we must have put on several pounds between us over the couple of weeks. Snack, snack, snack.”
Turning the conversation to the X-rated programmes the Gogglebox households occasionally watch, including steamy Fifty Shades of Grey scenes in the latest episode, Gyles said the snacking became a way of overcoming the awkwardness with Carol.
He said: “During the rather ruder ones I’m eating feverishly, because I don't know what else to do.”
The friends revealed that they first met 40 years ago while on Channel 4's Countdown, when Gyles recalled that Carol was the first woman to appear on the show.
Lorraine showed a throwback picture to when the pair originally worked together, as Gyles said: "You've grown younger and more beautiful as the years have gone by."
Gyles has joked about his wife’s shocked reaction to him teaming up with Carol on Celebrity Gogglebox last Friday as he appeared on the sofa alongside the Countdown star in a pair of shorts.
He said: “My wife was watching last night and she said, ‘What on earth are you two up to in the sitting room?
“‘I leave you alone for an evening and the next thing I know, you’re naked on television with a woman half your age! At least all the others were older than you… I mean, Carol is a babe!’
“She was very shocked, I have to say,” Gyles continued. “She was bowled over, I have to tell you, by your beauty.”
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV
