‘You’ve got Gogglebox’s Stephen Webb wrong – watch his turning point tonight’-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro

Ella Morgan has defended her best friend Stephen Webb (Picture: ellamorganc/ stephengwebb1971)

Stephen Webb’s appearance on Celebs Go Dating has drawn criticism from some viewers, but now, co-star Ella Morgan has rushed to defend her best friend.

The Channel 4 series revolves around watching famous faces try to find romance, but it’s also been the birthplace of a beautiful friendship between the pair.

Their connection is why it’s been particularly difficult for Married At First Sight star Ella, 30, to see the 56-year-old being criticised.

Despite being one of the most popular sofa critics on Gogglebox, Stephen has come under fire and even broke down in tears over fears he may ‘come across like an old pervert’ after deciding to date considerably younger men.

In one episode, 31-year-old diving instructor Dean said he felt ‘humiliated’ after Stephen directed sexual questions at him. Viewers reacted to the awkward exchange, with one account belonging to @loopylah68 writing: ‘Stephen came across as an absolute n*b, which is hard for me to say as I love him on gogglebox.’

While his dating tactics may be divisive, Stephen has a new bestie firmly in his corner.

Stephen’s dating style has been criticised (Picture: E4)

‘Stephen is my best friend, and I know we’re going to be best friends forever,’ Ella told Metro.co.uk.

‘We spent the last few days together and I said: “I know who you are, and I know your sense of humour. Some people will like you, some people won’t”. I remind him it’s a TV show, and the ones that are going to scream out and say horrible things online, they’re not worth it.’

Ella herself has found the backlash distressing due to her love for Stephen.

‘It upsets me. It is hard to watch because he is my best friend.’

She continued: ‘It doesn’t bother me when people say stuff about me most of the time, but it bothers me when people say stuff about my friends or family. But there is a turning point from tonight’s episode. People need to watch. People forget that the show is a journey.’ 

The cast have been entertaining viewers (Picture: Rachel Joseph / Lime Pictures / Channel 4)

The love hopeful highlighted that it can be a difficult landscape to be yourself, with ‘cancel culture’. However, Ella tries to remain ‘unfiltered’ to still be her ‘authentic’ self.

‘Nowadays you’ve just got to be so careful because there’s so many people that want to cancel you, but if you lived life thinking about every single thing that was about to come out of your mouth, you would be so filtered, and it just wouldn’t be authentic.

‘You just wouldn’t enjoy life. So both Stephen and I can be a bit crude, but, that’s just us,’ she stated.

Ella added she finds it a little confusing that people are shocked at his ‘crude’ jokes as his personality has been celebrated on Gogglebox, but pointed out it is perhaps due to seeing him as an individual for the first time, rather than with his mum, or former partners. He split from his husband Daniel Lustig last year, who was his longest Gogglebox sofamate.

Ella has defended her new best friend (Picture: Rachel Joseph / Lime Pictures / Channel 4)

When Metro.co.uk questions if the backlash could be considered homophobic, Ella replied: ‘Yeah.’

‘He is honesty an incredible person, with the kindest soul and the most wicked sense of humour. He knows that, thank God. People are always gonna say horrible things about all of us. Helen [Flanagan]’s been having it and I’ve had it. You’re never gonna please everybody.’

Former Coronation Street actress Helen, 34, left some of the dating show’s fans ‘unimpressed’ after admitting to having a secret boyfriend.

Helen has confessed to having a secret boyfriend (Picture: Channel 4)

‘I was shocked,’ Ella admitted. ‘I had no idea whatsoever.’

Asking Ella if it bothered her that Helen wasn’t totally truthful when Ella herself claims to be genuinely looking for love, Elle answered: ‘It doesn’t because when I did MAFS, for example, I knew that not everyone was there to get married and everyone’s got different intentions.

‘I can’t worry about other people. If other people want to do their thing I’m not going to judge you. As long as I know my intentions, I’m focusing on myself, not worrying about other people.’

She quickly added: ‘I love Helen. Helen is just the nicest, purest, most beautiful soul inside and out.’

While Helen may not have been on the series to seriously look for ‘the one’, Ella was hopeful that’s what she would be able to find her person.

Ella is hoping to find ‘the one’ (Picture: Channel 4)

After trying with both Nathaniel Valentino and JJ Slater on Married At First Sight, Ella thought it would be sensible to take it back a few steps and instead of tying the knot with a stranger, try dating them first – something she didn’t have much experience of doing that prior to signing up.

Despite Celebs Go Dating not having the best success rate when it comes to matchmaking, Ella was optimistic she could be the exception to the rule. ‘I was the only celebrity who had never experienced love, or even knew what it was, and I wanted to find out.’ The hopeless romantic was keen to enter into her first ‘proper’ relationship.

However, the pressure to find the ‘perfect man’ was too much and left her feeling like she failed when it didn’t instantly happen.

However, what she found is something ultimately more important – acceptance. When asked at the start, Ella said acceptance meant a partner accepting that she was a trans woman, but now she rightly expects so much more as her confidence has grown.

Ella says Celebs Go Dating is the best thing she’s ever done (Picture: Channel 4)

‘The show is the best thing I’ve ever done,’ she stated.

‘The therapy that I got was probably better than the therapy I had when I was going through my gender reassignment surgery.’

Ella would sit with dating agents Paul C Brunson, Anna Williamson, and Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, for two hours at a time. She would forget that it was being filmed as all the cameras are rigged, and there’s nobody else in the room.

‘I just learned so much as I’m older now, but it was so intense,’ she recalled.

Ella and JJ left their original partners for each other on Married At First Sight (Picture: Channel 4)

Her journey has been totally personal to her, but Ella appreciates that she is seen as a representative of the trans community and it’s not something she takes lightly. She has been a trailblazer on the small screen, becoming the first trans person on MAFS, and then once again being the first on Celebs Go Dating.

While talking about young trans people thanking her, she becomes emotional. After taking a brief moment to compose herself, Ella shares that she hopes soon there will be more representation as she feels a lot of pressure.

‘I really feel like I’m representing a whole community.’

She continued: ‘I take that job seriously and I don’t want to upset or offend anybody, especially anyone who’s trans – the only time I get upset is if I see someone who is trans write saying they’re disappointed or I’d let them down – but also I know I’m not an activist. I’m not articulate enough and I don’t know enough.

‘I can only be me and hope people forgive me if I make mistakes.

‘We need a trans man on Love Island,’ she blurted out. Before adding, she also wants to see a new series of I Kissed A… franchise, which could incorporate people who are non-binary and trans. She’s already offered her voiceover services to the producer!

Whether Ella finds love on Celebs Go Dating, or a future reality show is yet to be revealed, but one thing’s for sure, she loves herself more each day.

Celebs Go Dating, Monday to Thursday each week at 9pm on E4. The other celebrities appearing in this season are Love Island’s Chris Taylor, singer Jameila, internet personality Tristan Phipps and reality star Lauryn Goodman.

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