On paper, the concept of a show where households tune in to watch ordinary people watching television every week seems bizarre, but somehow it worked, with Gogglebox taking the reality TV world by storm from the moment it first aired in 2013.
Channel 4’s Gogglebox is the gift that keeps on giving, with there being many iconic moments across the TV show’s 20 seasons. The programme is so popular that many of the people featured have become household names, and there have been numerous celebrity episodes.
Various families and groups of friends have appeared on the show over the years, and while some fan-favourites, such as the Moffats, didn’t join Gogglebox until later on, there are a few of the original households who still appear on the show.
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To mark 10 years of Gogglebox, the MEN looks back at the original cast and what they’re up to now. Be sure to let us know your favourite Gogglebox family in the comments section below.
Steph and Dom Parker
This duo knew how to watch telly in style, as they often had a glass of bubbly in hand. Steph and Dom quickly became viewers’ favourites with their little comments and jokes as they watched the hit shows from that week.
The pair were only on Gogglebox for four years, quitting to focus on their bed and breakfast business in Kent. That wasn’t the last we saw of Steph and Dom, though, with the couple appearing on numerous other TV shows over the years, including when Dom took part in Celebrity MasterChef. Their B&B sadly shut in 2020.
Sandi and Sandra
Sandra Bogle and Sandi Martin’s friendship kept us entertained for years. The pair loved to tuck into a takeaway while watching television, making Gogglebox viewers very hungry. The duo were only together on Gogglebox for a few years, with Sandi quitting the show in 2016.
Sandra continued on the programme with her daughter Chanchez until 2017, while Sandi appeared on numerous other shows, including Celebrity Big Brother in 2017. Sandra went on to release her own single and debut album, but sadly, things soon took a turn.
After leaving Gogglebox, Sandra told The Sun that she "ended up homeless and penniless", and things only got worse when the pandemic arrived. Like many families across the world, Sandra's suffered heart-breaking loss, with the family losing five family members to COVID-19.
As for Sandi, tragedy struck her family back in 2017 when her nephew Bjorn Brown, 23, was stabbed to death in Croydon. The killer was never caught, prompting Sandi to lead a campaign on behalf of her family which included speaking at a press conference in 2019 and appearing on the Channel 4 programme, Famous and Fighting Crime.
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The Tappers
The Tapper family were a part of Gogglebox for 11 series from 2013 to 2018. Many households could relate to dad Jonathan, mum Nikki, daughter Amy and son Josh, with the children often coming out with brilliant one-liners.
Josh was the first to leave the show in 2017 after landing an apprenticeship with the UK Government. Amy shortly followed to take part in E4's Celebs Go Dating in 2018, and she later moved to LA. In 2020, Josh started working for Demos, a British think tank and charity.
The family had a turbulent time during the pandemic when Jonathan contracted Coronavirus and was left fighting for his life. He thankfully made a full recovery, and Amy and Jonathan went on to document their incredible weight loss journey.
Stephen Webb and Chris Ashby-Steed
Hairdressers Stephen and Chris were the favourites of many Gogglebox viewers. One of the funniest scenes in the show’s history has to be when the pair are watching a programme about a terrorist and Chris says “we all like a bad boy” with Stephen giving him a look and replying “not a f***ing terrorist, though!”
The duo were on the show together from 2013 until 2018 when Chris decided to leave. Stephen’s mum Pat temporarily joined the show, before Stephen’s new partner Daniel Lustig took over in 2019. The pair continue to have Gogglebox viewers in hysterics, while Chris enjoys married life away from the show.
Leon and June
The sweet couple from Liverpool quickly earned a place in everyone’s hearts with their adorable partnership and banter. Leon and June were one of the first couples to be cast for Gogglebox, with the pair being on the show from 2013 up until the devastating passing of Leon in 2017.
June understandably left the programme and later moved away from Liverpool. She sadly passed away not long after following a short illness. Leon and June remain in the hearts of many Gogglebox fans who miss tuning in to watch the lovable couple every week.
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The Siddiquis
The Siddiquis quickly became fan favourites with their warm but very funny conversations. Dad Sid and brothers Baasit and Umar were occasionally joined by brother Raza, with other members of the family sometimes making appearances.
Sid stopped appearing on Gogglebox during lockdown, but the brothers continue to entertain the nation with their quips about television moments 10 years on.
The Michaels
Another family that were one of the first on Gogglebox were the Michaels. Dad Andrew, mum Carolyn, daughter Alex and son Louis shared their opinions on certain TV shows each week until 2015.
The family had to temporarily leave the programme after Andrew announced he was running as an MP for UKIP in the general election, which was against Channel 4’s Gogglebox rules. However, the Michaels made a comeback towards the end of 2015 following Andrew’s decision to put his political career on hold. The family’s Gogglebox story ended in 2021 following the sad death of dad Andrew at the age of 61.
Which original Gogglebox household is your favourite? Let us know in the comments section below.
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