EVERY Friday night fans cosy up on the couch as they settle in for Channel 4’s heartwarming show, Gogglebox.
But over the years some of its loveable cast have been subjected to the so-called “curse of Gogglebox”, which includes several , a and even a .
Gogglebox has been plagued by break ups – Roisin Kelly and Joe Kyle split this week Credit: PA
The Channel 4 show has also faced HUGE fall outs behind the scenes Credit: Getty – Contributor
first hit our screens in 2013, and saw a bunch of regular Brits watching telly in their homes.
Despite the simplicity of the show, it became an instant hit and continues to be.
Fans just can’t get enough of the cast giving their hilarious verdicts on shows that had been on TV that week.
However, despite the feel good show giving viewers a boost at the end of the week, behind-the-scenes some of the loveable cast have been marred by heartbreak, scandal and even death.
Fans were shocked when Roisin announced her split from Joe Credit: Rex
Here we delve into how some of the Gogglebox families have endured the so-called “curse”.
LOVE SPLITS
We kick off with the which happened only this week.
On Monday, Roisin Kelly revealed she had split from her long-term boyfriend Joe Kyle.
The news came just months after they moved into their new home together.
Their break-up is also not long after the couple were last year, with the programme choosing not to renew their screen time.
Gogglebox stars Stephen and Daniel Lustig-Webb have also divorced Credit: Channel 4
In 2024, popular Gogglebox star .
The former couple thrilled fans when they wed in 2018, with their break-up coming as a shock.
A few months after their split, and also the aftermath.
Speaking on podcast My Dirty Laundry in June 2024, he said “We had a really good innings.
“It was really good for a really long time and then it kind of petered off, and then we kind of decided the best thing was to end as friends.”
Chris used to do Gogglebox with his ex-boyfriend Chris Ashby Steed Credit: Handout
Stephen also suffered the “curse” six years before his split from Daniel.
In 2018, the hairdresser’s former sofa buddy – and ex-boyfriend – Chris Ashby-Steed, who had starred alongside him from the very first series, was suddenly no longer on the show.
His departure was a surprise as the pair were fan favourites during their five year run – but sadly things turned sour.
A year after he quit Gogglebox, Chris , and the pair no longer speak.
Silent Jay then disappeared from Gogglebox Credit: Channel 4
Another big Gogglebox split was .
The couple broke up in 2015, which led to Jay’s sudden disappearance from the sofa as he appeared on the show with his ex-girlfriend’s family.
At the time of the break up Silent Jay, who was notoriously not very talkative on Gogglebox, opened up to The Sun.
The Birkenhead-based TV star said: “I’m gutted that Eve broke up with me. It came completely out of the blue.
“We had a few problems and started drifting apart but I thought it was down to the pressure of the show and her business. We argued too much and she said couldn’t cope with it.
He added: “She called after a big argument and said she didn’t want to go out with me any more.
“Eve said she still wants to be friends but hasn’t spoken to me and has deleted me on Facebook. It really hurts, we were so close.”
TRAGIC ACCIDENTS
George Gilbey sadly died after a tragic accident at work Credit: Channel 4
Fans were left in shock when George suddenly passed away – his stepdad Pete (right) died just three years before Credit: Channel 4
In 2024, the Gogglebox community was rocked when former star died aged 40 in Essex
The star was killed when he fell to his death while at work in Southend-on-Sea.
George, who also appeared on , had been “working on a roof when he fell through a plastic skylight, landing on the ground below,” the Coroner said.
Paramedics and police attended but he died at the scene.
A year prior, another horrific accident in the Gogglebox family occurred when after being hit by a car in 2023.
Thankfully he is doing well now, after a long recovery.
SAD DEATHS
Mary Cook, left, passed away in 2021 Credit: Channel 4
Gogglebox also saw a number of sad deaths in 2021.
The year was particularly difficult for the show, , who passed away from .
Also in 2021, aged 92, leaving fans devastated.
That same year, , who sadly died aged 61.
PAY SCANDALS
Paige Deville has been very vocal about the Gogglebox ‘low pay’ Credit: Channel 4
In 2021, Paige Deville shocked fans when she announced .
However, she then went on a rant at the show about “zero aftercare” and blamed the “low pay” for the reason for their exit.
The star claimed that the cast are paid roughly £100 for gruelling 9-hour filming sessions, which started at 3.30pm and ended after midnight.
“At one point my mum had her arm around me for four hours and they didn’t want her to move her arm. It isn’t as glamorous as you might think. It is very hard work,” she told Birmingham Live .
Gogglebox’s vicar Kate Bottley has also been vocal about the money they get for doing the showCredit: Refer to source
Low pay was also , who was on the show for five seasons with her husband Graham.
The former cast member, who left the show in 2016, later revealed the show was “intrusive” and that she was “paid very little” – and even added that she was “expected to provide meals for the crew”.
, who now presents on , revealed she ultimately gave a fake excuse to step away from the hit series – but had no intention of ever coming back.
Spilling the tea on the Walking the Dog podcast last year, the vicar said: “They paid, but I cooked two nights a week for the crew… all the money we got from it went on the electricity, the internet connection that they were using, and the food and being hospitable to six people in my home two nights a week.
“It’s a vicarage as well, I should be hospitable. We should be sharing our home to people, and eating food together.”
Meanwhile, last year .
It came when it was revealed he had been signed off from his NHS job for stress, but continued to film Gogglebox.
At the time it was revealed that the NHS reportedly gave the pensioner permission to continue with the show which he has appeared on as a regular since 2013.
It was also previously revealed how from her to fund her gambling habit.
SECRET ORGIES
Steph and Dom Parker were engulfed in an orgie scandal Credit: Channel 4 Handout
were one of the standout favourite sofa-dwellers when Gogglebox first hit our screens.
But they were also at the centre of the show’s first attention-grabbing scandal.
In 2014, it was revealed that their £3.5million mansion in Sandwich, Kent, had been hired out for an .
More than 60 guests from a private swingers’ club drank champagne at their residence before romping all night after sex club Killing Kittens paid out £1,700 for the night.
A spokesperson for the couple at the time confirmed that Steph and Dom were not at the house when the sex party took place – and thankfully, neither were the Gogglebox cameras.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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