Burnham defends Gogglebox appearance after Badenoch criticism

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has defended his decision to appear on a celebrity episode of Channel 4's Gogglebox, the series in which television viewers are filmed reacting to what they watch. The appearance drew criticism from Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition and of the Conservative Party, who said she was "amazed" that he has time for it.

Speaking in an interview on BBC Breakfast, Ms Badenoch said that even as a junior minister or a secretary of state she never had time to go on the programme. She said appearing on Gogglebox takes hours to do. She added that her job as leader of the opposition is to hold Mr Burnham to account.

Mr Burnham told the BBC that he is proud to support Stand Up To Cancer, the cancer campaign the episode is in aid of. He said he makes no apology for leading with lightness and humour.

Channel 4 announced on 22 October that Mr Burnham and Steve Rotheram, the Labour mayor of the Liverpool City Region, will join Gogglebox regulars and other famous faces for the special edition. Mr Burnham, who was previously the mayor of Greater Manchester, will appear alongside Mr Rotheram.

The special edition airs on Channel 4 at 21:05 BST. Gogglebox is a Channel 4 programme, so the episode is broadcast in the same way across the United Kingdom.