Gogglebox star Mary Killen has insisted that she and her husband Giles Wood are not 'incompatible' as they opened up about their relationship in a rare interview. The couple quickly became popular on the hit Channel 4 show for their dry sense of humour when then joined in 2015.
Mary and Giles are often seen and heard making hilarious digs at one another as well as showing their care for each other, particularly when Mary gets upset when watching some of the biggest TV shows and breaking news bulletins.
The pair, who have lived in rural Wiltshire for more than 30 years, have just released their latest book, Country Life, and written in their own individual voices in alternating chunks, it follows in the same humorous vein viewers of Gogglebox are used to as they chart their move and the changes to the countryside, the ‘relocated Sloanes’, the ‘poncified’ shopping, the ghostly goings-on, farming shenanigans and village social life.
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While speaking to the PA News Agency, Giles observed: "One of the big advantages of being in the country is being close to nature. And I’ve just seen a male blackbird mounting a female blackbird, yes, actual sex happening in front of us." But Mary interjects: "Oh Nutty [their pet name for each other], don’t give the wrong impression."
Mary’s a journalist, who formerly worked for Tatler and is currently The Spectator’s agony aunt; Giles contributes to The Oldie although he is a serious fine artist who, she says, needs to work more. "Giles would have done more paintings if he had needed to create a beauty spot rather than just stand in one admiring it," she writes in the book.
The couple, who have two daughters, met at Wimbledon College of Art where he was studying fine art and she was a costume model. By their own admissions, they are technically incompatible. Mary is the social butterfly, going down to London to see her pals, while Giles spends an inordinate amount of time in the garden, which has become a standing joke, because nobody knows what he does there.
"I’d love to do a series going round my own garden. It could be called 'What the 'F' does Giles do all day?'" he suggests. But the partnership makes sense in many ways, with Mary adding: "We are not completely incompatible. We share a sense of humour and a taste in friends."
In the book, there are references to the huge amount of time Giles spends in the garden. He says he’s trying to create a nature reserve, but confesses he spends a lot of time "fiddling about". However, they do come together while filming Gogglebox.
"We are sitting intensively for 12 hours a week together," she explains. The conversation progresses in comical tones, as they consider whether Gogglebox has brought them closer.
"It’s helpful in some ways for me when I’m being driven mad by him, as I was earlier today when I couldn’t get hold of him,” Mary explains frankly. "There were no taxis available because they’re all doing school runs.” And the Bafta-winning show has undoubtedly raised their profile, she says.
"When I go out, I get these beaming people coming up to me saying, ‘Are you Mary from Gogglebox? We love your husband! He makes us laugh’. And I think, 'Oh, good, he’s cheering people up'. It’s become more of a duty now to keep the nation amused. It’s like a public service broadcast," he adds. "It’s probably the only time we talk to each other, on Gogglebox, isn’t it Mary, apart from making admin arrangements?"
Country Life: A Story Of Peaks And Troughs by Giles Wood and Mary Killen is published by Ebury Spotlight, priced £17.99. Available now
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