Was PM's Gogglebox double act inappropriate amid war alert? Burnham defends 'bit of humour'

They looked like a modern-day Morecambe and Wise. But at least they weren't sharing a bed like the famous comic duo.

Andy Burnham and his best mate, Steve Rotheram, sat on a sofa together in 10 Downing Street watching TV together for Celebrity Gogglebox.

All very casual: Andy wore a white T-shirt and navy cardigan, Steve a tight-fitting top which fashion aficionados call a Henley polo.

In front of them, beers and bowls of crisps.

Just a couple of ordinary blokes on a Friday night, then, except one was the prime minster and the other the mayor of the Liverpool city region.

Was this TV double act - as some suggested - trivial, dumbing down or inappropriate, when the nation is on a war alert and with a crucial budget next week?

Not a bit of it, said the unrepentant TikTok prime minister, who said he was proud to support the programme's charity, Stand Up To Cancer.

"I make no apology for trying to lead with a bit of lightness at times, a bit of humour," he said defiantly before swapping the despatch box for the telly box.

"That's the way I go at things and connect with people as best I can."

Kemi Badenoch wasn't impressed, however.

"What I'm amazed at is that Andy Burnham has got time to go on Gogglebox," she said earlier.

Early on in the programme, the King of the North correctly answered a quiz question about the Royal household.

"The King will be happy," he said.

Then the pair discussed Strictly Come Dancing.

"If I was on Strictly, I'd do Sit Down, by James!," Andy declared, laughing.

And there was more light relief with a viewing of Countdown, in which the Downing Street sofa duo joined in the quiz.

"I did OK on one of the word rounds," boasted the PM.

But there was a deadly serious part of the programme too.

The PM - along with the other participants in the programme - was seen tearfully reacting to tragic stories of the deaths of cancer victims.

"The only thing that does give some hope is there is so much incredible research going on, and some of the main cancers of years ago, there's been such big progress on them," he said.

"But it's utter devastation isn't it, if you're that couple, I don't know how you cope with that."

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Suddenly, the jocular Number 10 banter between the two political mates gave way to a powerful message.

But then it was back to beer, banter and snacks.

"Twiglets are probably the best, aren't they?" said the PM as he offered his mate another beer.

And the finale, appropriately for two politicians: Traitors.

Steve said he'd never seen it, but Andy - his beer glass now almost empty - told him he'd be good at it.

"You've got to be able to spot the wrong-un in the room," said the PM, who was installed in Number 10 in a coup against Sir Keir Starmer staged by... well, rebel MPs.

The cardigan-clad PM wasn't the first party leader to appear on Celebrity Gogglebox.

Jeremy Corbyn took part in 2017 and Nigel Farage, then UKIP leader, in 2014.

As TV entertainment goes, Andy and Steve are no Morecambe and Wise.

But their sofa double act will have certainly succeeded in raising the profile of the fight against cancer.

(c) Sky News 2026: Was PM's Gogglebox double act inappropriate amid war alert? Burnham defends 'bit of humour'