Behind the sofa
Encyclopedia
"Behind the sofa" is a British
pop culture phrase, used as a metaphor
to describe the actions that a state of fear may drive a person to — e.g., a child hiding behind the sofa
to avoid a frightening television program
me. Although the phrase is sometimes employed in a serious context, its use is usually intended to be humorous and/or nostalgic, and to evoke a pleasant, safe fear in a domestic setting.
science-fiction television series Doctor Who
, particularly during the 1970s. The idea that young children would hide behind furniture when especially frightening scenes were being shown, as they were unwilling to miss the programme altogether, was also popularized in the media. The phrase is strongly associated with Doctor Who in the United Kingdom, so much so that in 1991 the Museum of the Moving Image in London
named their exhibition celebrating the programme "Behind the Sofa".
"Everyone remembers hiding behind the sofa," journalist Sinclair McKay wrote of the programme during its thirtieth anniversary year of 1993. "Remember hiding behind the sofa every time Dr Who came on the television?" the Daily Mirror newspaper asked its readers in a feature article two years later. In a 2006 interview with Sky News
, Prince Andrew, Duke of York
said that he hid from Dalek
s behind a Windsor Castle
settee while watching Doctor Who as a child. The Economist
has presented "hiding behind the sofa whenever the Daleks appear" as a British cultural institution on par with Bovril
and tea-time
.
Paul Parsons, author of The Science of Doctor Who, explains the appeal of hiding behind the sofa as the activation of the fear response in the amygdala
in conjunction with reassurances of safety from the brain's frontal lobe
.
in 2002 due to revelations about his private life, Angus Deayton
released a press statement which concluded: "I sincerely wish the show well in the future and look forward to watching this Friday's episode — from behind the sofa." Another example comes from sports coverage; in a live text commentary on a cricket
match in the 2005 Ashes series
for the Guardian Unlimited
website, journalist Rob Smyth
wrote of one moment during the game: "Now that Warne's
gone, it's safe for Gilo
to come out from behind the sofa: his second ball is chipped tantalisingly over the blundering Hoggard
at mid-off by Gillespie
."
In scripted programming, a reference occurred in a 2001 episode of the BBC sitcom Coupling
, where the central character Steve, while extolling the virtues of a sofa, remarks on its usefulness in avoiding Daleks. Coupling writer Steven Moffat
went on to write for and then become executive producer of the revived series of Doctor Who
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pop culture phrase, used as a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
to describe the actions that a state of fear may drive a person to — e.g., a child hiding behind the sofa
Couch
A couch, also called a sofa, is an item of furniture designed to seat more than one person, and providing support for the back and arms. Typically, it will have an armrest on either side. In homes couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den or the lounge...
to avoid a frightening television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
me. Although the phrase is sometimes employed in a serious context, its use is usually intended to be humorous and/or nostalgic, and to evoke a pleasant, safe fear in a domestic setting.
Origin in Doctor Who
The expression originated from popular media commentary on young children being frightened by episodes of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
science-fiction television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, particularly during the 1970s. The idea that young children would hide behind furniture when especially frightening scenes were being shown, as they were unwilling to miss the programme altogether, was also popularized in the media. The phrase is strongly associated with Doctor Who in the United Kingdom, so much so that in 1991 the Museum of the Moving Image in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
named their exhibition celebrating the programme "Behind the Sofa".
"Everyone remembers hiding behind the sofa," journalist Sinclair McKay wrote of the programme during its thirtieth anniversary year of 1993. "Remember hiding behind the sofa every time Dr Who came on the television?" the Daily Mirror newspaper asked its readers in a feature article two years later. In a 2006 interview with Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
, Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
said that he hid from Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
s behind a Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
settee while watching Doctor Who as a child. The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
has presented "hiding behind the sofa whenever the Daleks appear" as a British cultural institution on par with Bovril
Bovril
Bovril is the trademarked name of a thick, salty meat extract, developed in the 1870s by John Lawson Johnston and sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar. It is made in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, owned and distributed by Unilever UK....
and tea-time
Tea (meal)
Tea can refer to any of several different meals or mealtimes, depending on a country's customs and its history of drinking tea. However, in those countries where the term's use is common, the influences are generally those of the former British Empire...
.
Paul Parsons, author of The Science of Doctor Who, explains the appeal of hiding behind the sofa as the activation of the fear response in the amygdala
Amygdala
The ' are almond-shaped groups of nuclei located deep within the medial temporal lobes of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans. Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions, the amygdalae are considered part of the limbic system.-...
in conjunction with reassurances of safety from the brain's frontal lobe
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobe is an area in the brain of humans and other mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes...
.
In other popular culture
The phrase has also found more general usage in the UK as a humorous or satirical metaphor for being in a state of fear or terror. For example, after he was sacked as the presenter of the comedy programme Have I Got News for YouHave I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
in 2002 due to revelations about his private life, Angus Deayton
Angus Deayton
Gordon Angus Deayton is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian and broadcaster. He is best known for his role as Victor Meldrew's long-suffering neighbour Patrick Trench in the comedy series One Foot in the Grave...
released a press statement which concluded: "I sincerely wish the show well in the future and look forward to watching this Friday's episode — from behind the sofa." Another example comes from sports coverage; in a live text commentary on a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
match in the 2005 Ashes series
2005 Ashes series
The 2005 Ashes series was that year's edition of the long-standing and storied cricket rivalry between England and Australia. Starting on 21 July 2005, England and Australia played five Tests, with the Ashes held by Australia as the most recent victors...
for the Guardian Unlimited
Guardian Unlimited
guardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...
website, journalist Rob Smyth
Rob Smyth
Rob Smyth born 22 February 1977 in England is a rugby league player.Rob Smyth's position of choice is on the .He played for London Broncos, Warrington Wolves and Leigh Centurions in the Super League.Smyth was an Ireland international...
wrote of one moment during the game: "Now that Warne's
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
gone, it's safe for Gilo
Ashley Giles
Ashley Fraser Giles MBE is a retired English cricketer. Giles played the entirety of his 14-year first-class career at Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he is now employed as Director of Cricket...
to come out from behind the sofa: his second ball is chipped tantalisingly over the blundering Hoggard
Matthew Hoggard
Matthew James Hoggard MBE is an English cricketer. The 6' 2" Hoggard is a right arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed batsman. He played international cricket for England cricket team from 2000-2008, playing both Test cricket and One Day International cricket. He is currently the captain of...
at mid-off by Gillespie
Jason Gillespie
Jason Neil Gillespie is an Australian cricketer who formerly represented Australia at international level, in both Tests and One Day Internationals, and South Australia, Yorkshire and Glamorgan at first-class level. His primary role is as a right-arm fast-medium bowler, but he is also a competent...
."
In scripted programming, a reference occurred in a 2001 episode of the BBC sitcom Coupling
Coupling (UK TV series)
Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC2 from May 2000 to June 2004. Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC, the show centres on the dating and sexual adventures and mishaps of six friends in their thirties, often depicting the three women and the three...
, where the central character Steve, while extolling the virtues of a sofa, remarks on its usefulness in avoiding Daleks. Coupling writer Steven Moffat
Steven Moffat
Steven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his...
went on to write for and then become executive producer of the revived series of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.
External links
- Behind the Sofa The Collaborative Doctor Who Blog
- Behind the Couch A horror blog inspired by the concept of the phrase