Taking inspiration from Channel 4's hit show Gogglebox, these new photographs highlight the shared experience of television-watching by people across Bradford today.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Channel 4 in 2022, we visited residents at home to photograph them relaxing and watching TV, many with their families, friends and pets. We found people watching all kinds of media, from movies to video games, in locations as diverse as living rooms, beds and barbershops.
Whether sharing the nostalgia of childhood cartoons, following overseas dramas or just catching up on the news, watching TV is still something we enjoy sharing.
Photographs taken by local photographers Karol Wyszynski and Shy Burhan.
This display is part of Broadcast 100, a programme of events across SMG celebrating UK broadcasting.
Gogglebox photographs
Explore an extended version of the display:
The Balaz Family
Daniel and his family watch a variety of dramas and animated series together and have regular movie nights at home.
"As a person that owns an organisation that helps and supports people, as far as services go [...] art, performance and entertainment speaks volumes and stays there for generations. It represents culture, it represents people, it represents situations."
Fatima, Fawad and Sharleen
Fatima loves watching childhood cartoons with her daughter at the weekend, such as Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse.
"We’re like two kids sitting together. I am more excited than her to be honest, because the new generation is so used to animation and these graphics, and the pictures are much better than what we used to watch."
Angela and Maria
Angela and Maria watch a variety of programmes with their family, including Netflix series, BBC and Sky news, sports and Disney musicals.
"If it’s around 7pm, we all get ready for this Slovakian series. We mainly watch it because of Grandma... she lives through it. It brings us back to Slovakia when we were small, when we used to watch it with all our uncles and aunts."
Tim, Laura and Wally
Laura loves to catch up on Question Time on Thursday evenings and enjoys getting involved in the debates. Tim loves documentaries, particularly Storyville on BBC, because it opens his eyes to new topics.
"Our son Seth watches news with us. He comes down and we watch specifically Channel 4 news, and that’s how we three as a family come together. With Dad, we four come together as a family more around sport."
Nan’s House
Rupinder’s family look forward to movie nights and watching quiz shows together. They connect with their Sikh heritage through Punjabi films and dramas.
"That’s one of our things, it just bonds us all."
COVID-19 also impacted their viewing habits.
"There was a point during lockdown when you didn’t want to watch TV anymore, you’d had enough of it so you wanted to be anywhere but in front of the TV. Now that normality has come back, it’s the opposite."
Rachael and Verona
When Rachael was a child, her family always watched a film or documentary together after Sunday lunch. Rachael now tries to do the same with her own family.
"We used to have a TV on the landing for some reason. So, my brother and I would sneak out of our rooms at night and watch something together with the volume low, then go back to bed."
Gilly
Gilly fondly remembers watching the Grand National and the Boat Race with her parents as a child. She watches the last night of The Proms every year.
"I’m a very creative person, so I watch a lot of creative TV. Everything from baking programmes to glass blowing to make up. I really enjoy stuff like that."
New Vision Barbers
This barbershop on North Parade streams YouTube videos, podcasts and the news on a television for customers and staff.
"It’s just something interesting while you’re waiting for your haircut. Better than being stuck to your phone. It keeps people entertained and keeps the staff happy!"
Iveta’s Family
Television plays a large part in Iveta’s family life, but she mostly uses it to watch the news.
"I like movies in Czech, and to stay updated about the Czech Republic. I don’t want my children to lose their mother tongue, which is Czech. I watch English channels because I live in England and want to keep informed about what is happening."
The Wyszynski Family
Karol prefers to watch programmes that have educational value or a meaningful message with his family. However, he is often frustrated at how long it takes to decide.
"We don’t have a television as such, our TV is plugged into a computer. Everything we watch is from other platforms, like Channel 4, Netflix, Disney+."
Nelly and Roman
One of Roman’s favourite film memories is watching Commando starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Nowadays, he watches TV in the living room with his family.
Roman’s family also use laptops and smartphones to watch television in different parts of the house and when watching on their own.
The Balaz Family
"My daughter is asking me for help and then is laughing because she realises she is more tech savvy than I am."
The Balaz Family
"I like some time to myself and there's no better way than chilling with my dogs in my room, catching up on my favourite series."
The Balaz Family
"I always love to share new funny videos like pranks, life hacks and animal videos with my brother."
Gilly
"I’m a very creative person, so I watch a lot of creative TV. Everything from baking programmes to glass blowing to make up. I really enjoy stuff like that."
