A new poll has revealed 59% of Britons like to sit down softly on their couch, whilst a quarter collapse quickly and forcefully into their position on the sofa.
The data, conducted by market research agency YouGov, comes after a debate between comedian Nish Kumar and journalist Coco Khan on their Pod Save the Queen podcast, in which the two disagreed on how they sit.
Kumar said he sits down hard, whilst Khan said she preferred to sit down softly.
After the two stated it was “the survey YouGov won’t run”, the pollsters asked nearly 2,000 adults about their preferences on the couch to prove them wrong, saying they are “not ones to back down from a challenge”.
"It's the survey YouGov won't run", say @podsavetheuk
— YouGov (@YouGov) October 30, 2023
Not ones to back down from a challenge, we can now reveal that 59% of Britons sit down 'soft' like @cocobyname rather than collapsing into the sitting position 'hard' like @MrNishKumar (25%)https://t.co/y8aZ977hDn pic.twitter.com/iMuShtNCGN
Khan was amazed YouGov had carried out a poll based on their joke on Pod Save the Queen.
The journalist, who writes predominantly for The Guardian, tweeted: “Genuinely sitting here stunned that a passing joke on the podcast is now real data. I will be up all night thinking about this.”
“How can 16% of people not know how they sit?” she added humorously.
genuinely sitting here stunned that a passing joke on the podcast is now real data. I will be up all night thinking about this. 2000 people were polled?! should I be alarmed that sitting down soft tracks Tory? also how can 16% of people not know how they sit? 🤯 https://t.co/SVUVXEe6HY
— Coco Khan (@cocobyname) October 30, 2023
Specifically examining Greater Manchester, Mancunians feature as part of the ‘North’ regional section in the poll.
Northerners prefer to sit softly more than Brits nationwide, with 60% of those polled choosing to sit on the couch this way.
The data also shows men tend to sit down softly more than women, as 63% of men reported collapsing slow and gently onto the couch compared to 55% of women.
There is a disparity politically as well. Conservative voters are much more likely to sit down softly on their sofa than Labour supporters.
This final difference prompted the left-wing Khan to quip: “Should I be alarmed that sitting down soft tracks Tory?”
Feature image by Michiel Annaert.
