Are Britons suffering from video call burnout?

Many people are actually glad the office Christmas party will be contained to a video call

It seems people feel they’ve had too many video calls this year (AFP via Getty Images)

Millions of Brits have admitted declining Zoom or other online video calls with friends or family because they’re suffering from VCB – Video Call Burnout – from work-related sessions.

But they would be more than happy to tune in to join a virtual Christmas bash if Sir David Attenborough was hosting.

The beloved TV presenter beat Ant and Dec, funnyman Peter Kay, Ricky Gervais and Idris Elba as the ideal male party host.

Gemma Collins was voted the dream female party host in the top 10 survey.

And the poll of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by FunLab, which delivers fully hosted remote events, revealed some essential ingredients for a successful online Christmas and New Year’s Eve bash.

For four in 10, a fun host is the most important element, while one in five would like a ‘defined end point’ rather than the party just fizzling out.

Despite the nation’s video call fatigue, a virtual Christmas knees-up looks like being a godsend for many – certainly when it comes to office parties.

Nearly half admitted they have deliberately avoided contact with a work colleague at the annual bash and 41 per cent 'cringe' when they remember last year’s get-together.

And four in 10 – presumably the same culprits – confessed to being more likely to do something embarrassing there than at any other time of the year.

Overall, almost a quarter are relishing the prospect of a video Christmas party.

FunLab’s spokeswoman Blaise Witnish said: “Remote workers are suffering Zoom fatigue for all the right reasons – dull after-work drinks with no structure and no host to keep the energy up, or rubbish quizzes with no prizes of visual aids."

SWNS