Frank Skinner and David Baddiel are reuniting on the Gogglebox sofa for the hit Channel 4 reality show’s Stand Up To Cancer special.
The comedians made quite the chaotic pair in the 90s when they joined forces for BBC series Fantasy Football League. Later, they co-hosted the popular ITV talk show, Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned from 2000 to 2005.
Two decades on the firm friends are taking a trip down memory lane and recreating their onscreen chemistry on Celebrity Gogglebox as they share their running commentary on the nation’s favourite TV shows and most shocking on-air moments.
‘It is an amazing cause and Dave and me, back on a sofa, seems a better deal than cycling up K2, carrying a fridge to Istanbul or any of that sweaty stuff people do for charity,’ Frank, 67, said in a statement.
David, 60, added: ‘I’m a big fan of Gogglebox, Stand Up To Cancer, and Frank Skinner, so this wasn’t a difficult yes.
‘If we can raise awareness and cash to fight this terrible disease, it’s worth the huge effort of slumping in front of the screen with my old friend.’
They now live ‘on the same road 15 doors down from each other’, making the task all the more easy, as Frank explained.
‘I’ve been watching TV with David Baddiel for about 30 years. The only TV I refused to watch with him was stuff featuring me. He never laughed enough.’
The pair are also behind English football’s most popular anthem, Three Lions, alongside the Lightning Seeds which came out in 1996. They dedicated a live performance of the song to the Lionesses in 2022 after their Euros triumph.
In an interview with the Metro last year, Frank opened up about their long-lasting bond.
‘That’s a friendship that has never diminished. I think I give in a lot. All my successful relationships have been based on me giving in,’ he said at the time.
Meanwhile, David included an entire section on their friendship in his religious book, The God Desire which came out in 2023.
Frank, who is a member of the Catholic church, explained why he wouldn’t be reading it to The Times.
‘I told him I wouldn’t read it. I am in it and, to be fair to him, he sent me those bits and said, “If there’s anything you don’t like …” because I do come off as a bit medieval when I say about a relationship, “I fear we will burn in hellfire.”
‘So I didn’t read it, but I went to a discussion he did in Edinburgh and I really liked that, and afterwards we went and had a cup of tea and talked about it.
‘And I said, “Look, I can’t get round the fact that the basic message of this book is ‘I’d love to believe in God, but I’m too intelligent”.
‘And he said, “No, it absolutely isn’t that.” And then we talked about it and about 10 minutes later he said, “Yeah, you’re probably right. Maybe it is that.” And it is.’
Gogglebox is not the only highly-anticipated reunion Frank has confirmed this month.
A few weeks earlier he shared his popular Absolute Radio slot -The Frank Skinner Show – with co-hosts Emily Dean and Pierre Novellie is returning in podcast form after it got axed following a 15 year-run.
‘It’s like in those old movies when the kids get rejected by the big theatre and one of them says “Why don’t we do the show right here in the barn? I think the barn will suit us fine”,’ he said about Frank Off The Radio.
Celebrity Gogglebox for Stand Up To Cancer will air on Channel 4 at 9pm on Friday, October 25.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Gogglebox star, 89, retires and says ‘it’s time for me to stop and have a rest’
MORE : Gogglebox legend fights back tears after break-up with ‘the best’ ex-husband
MORE : Gogglebox star Izzi Warner reveals criteria for her perfect man following split
