New research from M&M’S reveals watching TV with others is one of the UK’s most cherished shared habits, but also the setting for our most secretly annoying behaviours.
From passive-aggressive rewinds to theme tune singalongs and full-blown sulks over the remote, the research uncovers the nations hilarious habits, cherished rituals and unspoken icks that define how the British really watch TV together.
The research paints a hilarious picture of the nation’s telly-time etiquette:
- 38% of us have an assigned seat on the sofa
- 35% live with someone who always falls asleep mid-show
- 26% keep rewinding the show to catch every word
- 26% try to guess the plot before it happens
- 24% secretly Google cast members mid-episode, while pretending to pay attention
- 42% say comfy clothes for watching are non-negotiable
But beneath the serial snoozers, the plot guessers, and the ones who rewind five times to hear the same line, there’s real love on the sofa, with 1 in 5 Brits say watching TV together is their love language. That might explain why over half of us (51%) tune in with family, friends, or partners multiple times a week.
And who we’re watching with matters too. When asked who we’d most love to watch with? The UK crowned David Attenborough, Olivia Colman and Ant & Dec as their ultimate telly watching companions.
Of course, all that togetherness comes with a side of telly tension.
According to the M&M’S research, blanket hogging sparks conflict in 1 in 4 homes, while loud snackers top the ‘do not invite’ list for 24% of Brits. A third of us (32%) can’t stand people who ask too many questions, subtitles are now mandatory (even when everyone speaks English), and footstool turf wars are a thing, with 19% admitting to regular footsie squabbles. And let’s not forget the remote-control hoarders, a major source of household friction on the sofa.
Introducing ‘Couch Confessions’ – M&M’S fix for Britain’s telly time tensions
To celebrate the wonderfully chaotic quirks of watching TV together, M&M’S launched Couch Confessions, a limited-time pop-up hosted by TV superfans Sam Thompson and Scarlett Moffatt. Visitors to the pop-up could explore two playful living rooms-in-one, inspired by Britain’s most relatable telly-time habits, and try out hilariously clever inventions designed to solve the most common watching gripes including.
- Crunch Defenders – Headphones designed to mute enthusiastic snackers.
- Family Snacking Slanket – Blankets are a must-have for 26%, but someone always hogs it. This cosy cover fits the whole group, with snack pockets for everyone.
- Anti Snooze Bell – for the 35% who live with chronic mid-show nappers
- Family Sized Foot Stall – to end the footsie turf wars, voted for by 19% of respondents
TV Personality and Radio Host, Sam Thompson said: “I’m all about turning TV nights into a proper event with bean bags, onesies, volume up and a stash of M&M’S. It’s my favourite time to just hang out with mates…even if it takes us an hour to agree on what to watch and someone always falls asleep halfway through!”
Reality TV Star, Scarlett Moffat, said: “TV nights at home are my love language, chaotic, full of theme-tune singalongs and subtitle debates. But hunkering down on the couch with Scott and Jude is what makes it so special. I love how M&M’S is celebrating the little quirks that turn ordinary nights into unforgettable family moments, because watching together is always more fun, even if Jude is the remote-control-king nowadays!”
M&M’S Couch Confessions was open to the public on 6th August. Follow the fun at @mms_uk and join the conversation with #CouchConfessions. Because let’s face it, watching together is more fun, even when someone steals the remote.
