Revealed: The nation’s greatest TV-watching sins from sneakers on the couch to telephones on loud

Settling down in front of the television is an evening ritual in homes across Britain.

And a poll has found that strict rules are laid down by many families as they wind down together.

A third (32 per cent) said there should be no shoes on the sofa, and 30 per cent said spoilers during a film were a no-no, according to the poll commissioned by EE.

Some 27 per cent said phones must be kept on silent – and 12 per cent say taking off your socks on the sofa is forbidden.

In terms of what we watch, drama (65 per cent) is the nation’s favourite genre, followed by comedy (54 per cent), true crime and then sci-fi, although 23 per cent say they often find themselves going from watching horror to comedy in one night.

A new poll has found that some families lay down strict rules when they decide to settle down and watch TV together

Four in ten (43 per cent) said snuggling up on the sofa in the evening was their favourite part of the day. 

But 27 per cent said chit chat should be avoided at all costs during a film or TV show.

Nearly a fifth (18 per cent) said hogging the remote was not allowed. Despite four in ten (39 per cent) saying that TV brings people together, more than half of those polled regularly argue with family and friends about what to watch, having cross words an average of six times a month.