Stephen Webb has defended his ‘crude’ humour on Celebs Go Dating amid strong viewer backlash.
The 53-year-old former Gogglebox star’s conduct on the E4 dating show has been widely criticised after one of his date’s branded his behaviour ‘creepy’ and inappropriate’.
However, in a new interview, Stephen has now spoken out against the negative reception he’s received, noting that his dating game is ‘rusty’ while suggesting that younger viewers don’t get his old school 70s humour.
The TV star has been single since his split from Daniel Lustig earlier this year, of whom Stephen also revealed the reason he asked him for a divorce.
Opening up to Tim Vincent and Siobhan Wykes on the Suddenly Single podcast, Stephen said of his frowned upon humour: ‘I’ve been out of the dating game for 12 years. Very rusty.
Stephen Webb has defended his ‘crude’ humour on Celebs Go Dating amid strong viewer backlash
The TV star has been single since his split from Daniel Lustig earlier this year, of whom Stephen also revealed the reason he asked him for a divorce [pictured together in 2023]
‘And I have got a 1970s Benny Hill sense of humour which doesn’t go down well with the under 30s.
He added that there are several people who are ‘ready to be offended’ and are quick to ‘cancel you’.
And despite working with the dating experts to find a new partner, Stephen admitted that he wasn’t looking for love and only went on the dating show ‘for a paycheck’.
Stephen’s behaviour on the show has landed him in trouble, as earlier this month he came under fire for his ‘crude’ comments to two of his dates, and broke down in tears in a recent episode after receiving some harsh feedback.
He faced huge backlash after choosing 22-year-old footballer Ben for his first date, being branded ‘creepy’ and inappropriate’.
And he left Dean Muir, 39, less than impressed after he called him ‘boring’ to his face after he confirmed he wouldn’t have sex with someone after the first date.
Stephen also attempted more sexual banter, asking the driving instructor his preferences in the bedroom and whether he had ever had sex with his pupils in the back of his car.
He was then given feedback from his dates and Dean marked a it a brutal zero out of ten, slamming the TV star’s behaviour and saying he felt humiliated.
The 53-year-old former Gogglebox star’s conduct on the E4 dating show has been widely criticised after one of his date’s branded his behaviour ‘creepy’ and inappropriate’
Stephen said of his frowned upon humour: ‘I have got a 1970s Benny Hill sense of humour which doesn’t go down well with the under 30s’
Stephen’s behaviour on the show has landed him in trouble , as earlier this month he came under fire for his ‘crude’ comments to two of his dates
Stephen – who split from Daniel earlier this year – left his date feeling ‘disrespected,’ ‘cheap and humiliated’ during a recent instalment
Dating expert Paul C. Brunson criticised Stephen, saying he had been ‘selfish, crude and closed minded’, and declaring: ‘You won’t be successful in life if you continue this way.’
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Gogglebox star Stephen Webb branded 'creepy' and 'inappropriate' by Celebs Go Dating viewers
The hairdresser then proceeded to break down in tears over the feedback, saying: ‘My head is all over the place, I just feel like my whole personality has been destroyed. I’ve come across as a pervert!’
In the wake of the split, Stephen’s ex Daniel rushed to defend him, exclusively telling : ‘I have known Stephen for 11 years. He has only ever shown me kindness and been very generous. Yes his personality is marmite but he doesn’t mean any harm it’s just jest. You either get it or you don’t.
‘He is always behind all his friends and partners wanting the absolute best for them. This is Stephen’s first show out of Gogglebox I’m sure he was a little nervous too.
Meanwhile, during the podcast interview, Stephen opened up on divorcing Daniel and detailed how they spent the day together when they decided to split.
Meanwhile, during the podcast interview, Stephen opened up on divorcing Daniel and detailed how they spent the day together when they decided to split
On my he ended his marriage, he said: ‘I was slowly checking out of the marriage…and then I had to be quite blunt and say I want a divorce’
On my he ended his marriage, he said: ‘I was slowly checking out of the marriage…and then I had to be quite blunt and say I want a divorce.’
He continued: ‘I think we both switched off and we stopped working at it. I went through quite a lot of trauma over the last year, I lost both my parents, and I thought I’m 53, I want a new life…I want to do a bit of a Shirley Valentine, get out there and discover something new.’
Detailing the emotional day they spent together amid their split, he went on: ‘The day I told him, we cancelled everything, went to the shops, bought lots of chocolate, crisps and sweets, sat indoors and spoke about our relationships, when we met, all the amazing things we’ve done together, we went through it all and it was really cathartic.’
Listen to Suddenly Single on Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. You can also watch on YouTube from Tuesday September 10.