Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Gogglebox: Daniella Westbrook ‘seeking legal advice’ for ‘derogatory’ comments about her nose

Former EastEnders star accused the show of ‘bullying’

Jacob Stolworthy
Wednesday 18 November 2020 05:19 EST
Comments
Daniella Westbrook seeks legal advice after her nose was mocked on Gogglebox

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Daniella Westbrook has said she is seeking legal advice over "derogatory" comments made about her in Gogglebox.

The former EastEnders star explained that she was upset to find, while watching the show with her family, a joke about her nose had made the edit.

In last Friday's edition of the Channel 4 show (13 November), the Siddiqui family mocked Westbrook with comments about her nasal septum, which fell out while being addicted to cocaine in the 1990s.

When Baasit asked: "Would you rather have just one giant nostril or would you like to have just one giant eye?", his brother, Usar, said: “I’d like one giant eye.”

“You’d want to be a cyclops?” Baasit replied. Usar then wondered what he’d be called if he had one giant nostril. 

“They haven’t even given a name for that” he added, to which Baasit responded: “Yes, they have – that girl from EastEnders. Would you rather be a cyclops or a Daniella Westbrook?"

The trio, including their father Sid, are then seen laughing.

Westbrook, who played the first incarnation of Sam Mitchell in the BBC soap, criticised the show for broadcasting the remarks. 

“Thank you everyone for the support you gave me about the derogatory comments Channel 4 allowed the Siddiqui family to make,” she wrote on Twitter.

“My manager is seeking legal advice as trolling is not something we should take lightly.”

She continued by saying: "And I for one am in shock that [Gogglebox creator] Tania Alexander allowed that to make the edit.

"The show has always been a favourite of myself and my family, was a real shame that we had to witness such cruel comments on World Kindness Day."

Westbrook's followers sent her messages of support and heavily criticised Gogglebox for airing the comments.

The Independent has contacted Channel 4 for comment.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in