Celebrity Gogglebox viewers were over the moon when Royle Family alum Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston made their debut on the Channel 4 spin-off show this evening (Friday, June 23). It was announced on Thursday night that the pair would be joining the show in an Instagram post that read "It's a long-awaited sofa-reunion for our favourite TV family, Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston!" and tonight, this new addition did not disappoint as viewers called them "national treasures" and "brilliant".
The show, which sees families and friends take to their sofas to watch television programmes and comment on them as the cameras roll, returned last Friday and proved a massive hit as regular duos such as Bez and Shaun Ryder of Happy Mondays made a comeback - read more on that here.
And on Friday's show, fans were introduced to a slew of new celebrity watchers on their sofas. Alongside Ricky and Sue, singers Beverly Knight and Adam Lambert also appeared on our screens alongside former journalist and author Alastair Campbell and his comedian daughter Grace.
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These latest duos join an array of celebs to have signed up to the series this year. Some names include Davina McCall and her partner Michael Douglas, Katherine Ryan and her husband Bobby, Jane McDonald and her friend Sue, Chris Packham CBE with his step-daughter Megan. Returning celebrities include the likes of Nick and Liv Grimshaw, Paul Sinha and Olly Levy, Clare Balding and Alice Arnold and Martin and Roman Kemp.
But two in particular had fans thrilled and feeling nostalgic with many commenting on how delighted they were to see Royle Family stars Ricky - who played James Randolph "Jim" Royle - and Sue (Barbara Royle) reunited on the sofa once again, over ten years after the much loved show ended.
Taking to Twitter as the programme aired, one fan wrote: "jim and barb on #gogglebox has cured my depression". Another said: "Aww watching Jim & Barb on #gogglebox feels so crazy!!! Absolutely love The Royle Family."
While a third and fourth penned: "Sue and Ricky are national treasures. How has it taken them so long to be on this? #Gogglebox" and "loving Ricky & Sue, perfect tv couple in real life and fictional Bobby & Shelia/Jim & Barb #CelebrityGogglebox #Gogglebox @C4Gogglebox."
"How brilliant having #SueJohnstone and #RickyTomlinson on #Gogglebox! #RoyleFamily," added another.
Celebrity Gogglebox continues on Channel4 next Friday at 9pm.
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