Gogglebox is set to make a much-anticipated return to Channel 4 this week (February 24).
For many of us, Friday nights just aren't the same without our favourite families providing witty commentary on this week's telly. The hit Channel 4 programme has been off the air for two months, so fans will be thrilled to tune in again.
We all have our Gogglebox favourites, but the show's cast has changed considerably over the years. Some entire families have come and gone, while others have seen some members quit to pursue new opportunities.
READ MORE: Which Gogglebox gang should you be in? Take our personality quiz to find out
Let's take a look at some of the armchair critics who have called time on their Gogglebox experiences.
Tom Malone Jr
The Malone family joined the hit Channel 4 show for its fourth series back in 2014, and have been regulars ever since. But in recent series' there has been one member missing from their sofas.
Tom Malone Jr left the show in February 2021, announcing he wanted to explore other opportunities. Since making the decision to leave, Tom has worked with different brands promoting their products, such as Hooch and Personalised Gifts.
Tom is also a freelance model and street-dance choreographer and is a member of a professional dance crew. The 28-year-old returned to our screens last year, as he took part in The Real Dirty Dancing alongside Chelsee Healey.
Scarlett Moffatt
Scarlett became a regular cast member, alongside parents Mark and Betty Moffatt, during Gogglebox's third series in March 2014. After a two-year stint on the show, Scarlett decided to swap County Durham for the Australian Outback.
The reality TV star took part in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here in 2016, and went on to be crowned Queen of the Jungle. From that moment, Scarlett was inundated with TV offers and is said to have raked in millions of pounds since quitting Gogglebox.
She began hosting I'm a Celebrity's spin-off show and joining Ant and Dec for Saturday Night Takeaway, reported earning £3m in two years. She splashed out £300,000 on a luxury house for herself and also helped her parents pay for their home.
She has also appeared on celebrity version of The Chase, The Great British Bake Off, and Catchphrase.
Mica Ven and Marcus Luther
Gogglebox fans were left "gutted" when Marcus and Mica confirmed they would not be returning to the show in 2023. Mica took to Instagram to announce the news in December as she said it was "time to put down the remote and see what else God has in store for us".
Since their departure, the loved-up pair have filmed a charity special of the BBC quiz show Pointless.
Chris Ashby-Steed
Stephen Webb and Chris Ashby-Steed had viewers in stitches every week with their sarcastic one-liners and hilarious gags. Unfortunately the couple split up, but Chris and Stephen remained friends and continued filming together until 2018.
However, behind-the-scenes the two of them were secretly locked in a bitter feud. Last year, Chris confessed leaving the show after falling out with his sidekick.
Chris vanished from the screen after a planned TV project involving the two fell through and he has since suffered from depression.
He said: “Stephen decided to copy me into an email to the studio saying he was going to terminate our joint venture. After he sent that email I didn’t speak to him for a little while because I was hurt by it.
“Then the studio called and said they would like to offer us the position back on Gogglebox. I spoke to Stephen and his attitude was ‘I’m not sure I can put up with you every other week filming’. Which was a bit of a blow."
Gogglebox’s producers agreed the two could appear with new partners on alternate weeks, but this didn't come to fruition. Stephen initially brought in mum Pat in 2018 and now appears with his new husband, Daniel Lustig, who has become a regular fixture since first appearing on the show in 2019.
Sadly Chris has not returned to our screens, and now lives with husband Tony.
Paige Deville and Sally Hayward
Paige Deville, who appeared on the show alongside mum Sally, sensationally quit in September 2021 after accusing bosses of providing "zero aftercare support". The 25-year-old took to Twitter to reveal her decision ahead of the new series which aired that night (September 17).
Paige tweeted: "I have made the decision to walk away from Gogglebox. It’s been an experience but one I cannot continue with due to long hours of filming, restrictiveness, control of our actions and opinions & zero aftercare support but hey who cares about ex cast, their NTA winners".
In response to Paige's accusations, a Channel 4 spokesperson said: “The welfare of contributors – past and present – is of paramount importance and robust protocols are in place to support contributors before, during and after taking part in the series.”
Paige has since set up her own employment agency, Palm Recruitments.
Marina Wingrove
Mary and Marina were best friends from Bristol. They joined the show in 2016 for series eight and often left lest viewers in hysterics with their wine-drinking, racy comments and attempts to make sense of the modern world.
The friends met while living at the St Monica Trust retirement village in Bristol nine years ago, and Marina still lives there now. In August 2021, viewers were heartbroken following the sad death of Mary Cook who was 92.
Channel 4 released a statement that read: "We are extremely saddened to share that Gogglebox star Mary Cook died in hospital this weekend at the age of 92 with her family by her side."
Mary was a hilarious member of the cast who often appeared in the show with her best friend Marina Wingrove. After losing her best friend, it has been reported that Marina decided not to return to the show.
Marina made a sweet tribute to her friend and co-star following her death: "My dearest friend Mary, treasured memories will last forever. Our laughs and giggles and our ups and downs will forever be in my heart. Deepest sympathies to Mary’s family. Love Marina.”
The Tapper family
The Tapper family, which consists of mum Nikki, dad Jonathan and kids Josh and Amy, were firm favourites when they burst onto screens in 2013. But the lovable North Londoners began to be whittled down when Josh moved into politics and got a place on the Government Communications Apprenticeship scheme.
TV bosses said at the time the star was on a "break" from the show and left the door open for him to return, while keeping parents Nikki and Jonathan and sister Amy on screen.
But Josh admitted he had firmly slammed that door shut while entering Downing Street, saying: "The option to go back is always there but I want to move away from that and the focus is now very much on my job. Of course, I miss it and the sitting on the couch watching TV. But I am more focused on my future, it’s a more a secure path."
During his time in Number 10, Josh was a campaign assistant for the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Office before working as assistant campaign manager. However, in 2020 a Downing Street source revealed Josh had left for new pastures, having bagged a job at Demos – a leading British think tank and charity.
In October 2018, younger sister Amy also quit the show to take part in Celebs Go Dating, and while she ultimately did not find the love of her life she did gain a lot of confidence and made some new celeb pals. The coronavirus pandemic nearly had a devastating impact on the family as dad Jonathan was left fighting for his life.
The 52-year-old was struggling to breathe and could barely move, leading to his loved ones taking it in turns to care for him. Thankfully, Jonathan made a full recovery and the family credited his recent weight loss to helping him fight the virus, which he battled for weeks.
June and Leon Bernicoff
No list of ex-Gogglebox cast members is complete without mention of two of the show's most popular contributors and undoubtedly one of the nation's favourite couples. June and Leon first appeared on the show back in 2013.
With their warmth and easy banter, the Liverpool-based couple became national treasures from their sofa in Liverpool. However, their time on the show came to a devastating end in December 2017 when 83-year-old Leon died.
June left Gogglebox straight after Leon's death on the basis it wouldn't be the same without her husband of 60 years. The show dedicated a very special tribute to Leon two months after he died.
June, 82, sadly died in May 2020, after a short illness, with many heartbroken at her loss. Channel 4 and production company Studio Lambert issued a statement on behalf of her family, confirming the sad news.
The statement read: "As the first couple to be cast for Gogglebox back in 2013, June and her husband Leon were a huge part of the programme's success. Their warmth, wit and contrasting personalities endeared them to the nation during the course of the first 10 series.
"Following Leon's passing in December 2017, June wrote her first book, Leon And June: Our Story, which was a deeply moving and entertaining chronicle of their 60-year love affair. A remarkably independent, principled woman with a vivacious sense of humour and a huge passion for life, June will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family, cast and crew.”
Gogglebox returns to Channel 4 on Friday, February 24, at 9pm
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