A SCOTTISH family who became a sensation on social media after appearing on TV have laughed off suggestions their accent made them difficult to understand.
Charles and Donna Manuel set Twitter ablaze after their debut on the Channel 4 show Gogglebox, with users across the UK calling for subtitles to be added because of their Glasgow accents, claiming they “couldn’t understand a word” the family was saying.
However, when contacted by The Herald, Mrs Manuel joked “it’s nice that you can understand me”.
She added that she and her family have been banned by production company Studio Lambert from talking further.
On Twitter many people were left baffled by their accents.
One person wrote: “Not to be mean but I can’t understand anything.”
Messages came thick and fast, with another two reading: “Need subtitles for this new family” and: “I literally have no idea what that new family just said.”
Users continued: “Yikes! The new family on Gogglebox have very strong Glaswegian accents. Not the easiest to understand.”
“Watching #Gogglebox on catch up. OMG we’ve had to put subtitles on as we can’t understand the new family,” one viewer tweeted.
Two further posts read: “Gogglebox can’t understand a b****y word the new family has said,” and: “What language are new family talking?”
Translation issues notwithstanding, the new family has proved to be a hit on the show.
One viewer wrote on Twitter: “How can no one understand the new Scottish family? I can ... and I’m from Cornwall!”
Gogglebox, which has been nominated for a Bafta award, regularly attracts more than three million viewers.
It has a simple format, showing like-minded families watching and commenting on TV, and its fame has spread through social media and word of mouth.
Gogglebox began with a four- episode run in March 2013 and its changing “cast” of householders featured on the programme have all built up substantial followings on Twitter.
The Manuel’s debut is not the first time viewers in the UK have been left scratching their heads at Scottish accents.
When The Scheme, shot on Kilmarnock’s Onthank estate, first aired south of the Border it was heavily subtitled, while Ken Loach’s Sweet Sixteen was subtitled when shown by the BBC.
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