Gogglebox star Jenny Newby is in hospital, with best friend and co-star Lee Riley breaking the news after he accepted the show's BAFTA on Sunday night.
Having become firm favourites since they joined the Channel 4 series a few years ago, with many viewers declaring them as their top couple, there was concern on Friday night when Jenny and Lee were nowhere to be seen as the latest episode went out. And, after social media was filled with questions from viewers, wondering why they weren't on this week's Gogglebox, Lee set the record straight on the BAFTA TV Awards red carpet on Sunday night, when he told reporters Jenny, 65, 'hadn't been very well,' was in hospital.
"She is not very well, she is having an operation, a mini one, but she is recovering well though," he explained. "She was invited but the appointment was in BAFTA week. You can't turn down an NHS operation down can you? But she is doing well."
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Viewers who hadn't seen the red carpet coverage prior to Sunday night's awards ceremony were worried about Jenny when she didn't join Lee and other cast and crew on stage as Gogglebox won Best Reality and Constructed Factual prize, seeing off competition from the likes of Great British Sewing Bee, Married At First Sight UK and RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Lee was the person who accepted the BAFTA, the show's first in seven years and he thanked viewers for sticking with them all, as well as paying tribute to the cast behind the scenes.
He was followed onto the microphone by a member of Gogglebox's production team, who took aim at the Government's desire to sell Channel Four, a decision addressed by numerous others throughout the course of the event, which sparked controversy after acclaimed drama and the show with the most nominations, It's A Sin, failed to pick up a single accolade.
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