Gogglebox star to stand for Labour in election

Josh Tapper with short dark hair wearing a green top and Amy Tapper with long brown hair wearing a large scarf — Image caption,

Josh Tapper appeared on Gogglebox with his family from the first show in 2013 until 2018

By Martin Heath

BBC News, Hertfordshire

A Gogglebox star says he will be competing against the deputy prime minister to become a Labour MP at the general election.

Josh Tapper, whose family took part in the first edition of the Channel 4 show, will try to overturn Oliver Dowden's 21,313 majority in Hertsmere.

Mr Tapper, 26, said he was "thrilled and honoured".

The Hertsmere Labour Party said he would be ready for "when Sunak finds the courage to call the election".

Mr Tapper was just 15 when his family appeared in the first edition of Gogglebox in 2013.

The show – which featured families and friends reacting to the previous week's television programmes – proved to be a hit with audiences, and the Tappers were regulars until 2018.

According to his own website, Mr Tapper joined the civil service after leaving Gogglebox and also volunteered for cancer care charities and food banks.

He was also a trustee of the charity Homeless Action in Barnet.

Image caption,

Oliver Dowden had a majority of 21,000 at the last general election

Posting on the social media site X, he said: "I am thrilled and honoured to have been selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate for Hertsmere.

"Thank you so much to local members for your support – I won't let you down."

He added that "the work to unseat the deputy prime minister starts now."

Oliver Dowden had a majority of 21,313 for the Conservatives after the 2019 election, increasing both his share of the vote and majority from the snap election in 2017.

Mr Tapper will also be competing against Emma Matanle, who was selected last year to fight the seat for the Liberal Democrats.

None of the candidates know how long they will have to wait before a general election is called.

The deadline is January 2025, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak indicated he would send the country to the polls in the second half of 2024.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt previously hinted October was being considered as the month when the polling stations would open.