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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Kate Lally

Gogglebox Sophie Sandiford's boyfriend, day job and 'secret' brother and sister

Sophie Sandiford and her brother Pete are two of the nation's most-loved Gogglebox stars.

Viewers are used to seeing the siblings giving their views and hilarious quips on the Channel 4 show. Away from our screens, however, there are some things about Sophie many fans may not know.

During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Sophie lost her job at Debenhams, where she worked as a window dresser, after the high street store went into administration.

READ MORE: Gogglebox star Lee Riley 'gutted' as Jenny remains in hospital after operation

Sophie broke down on Gogglebox when Boris Johnson announced the second coronavirus lockdown. Sophie began to cry, saying the situation was "s*** for everyone" and expressing concern over people's jobs.

Viewers sent her lots of messages of support following her breakdown. And later that evening following everyone's concern Sophie tweeted saying: "Thank you so much for all the lovely messages tonight... it’s a tough time for everyone but we’ve all just got to hang in there sending love to everyone, better days are coming."

In March 2021, things seemed to be going in a positive direction as Sophie announced her new career venture. The 26-year-old told her brother she was learning to become a florist. On one episode of Gogglebox, she showed Pete her bouquets as she started up her new business.

In recent weeks, Sophie has shared snaps of herself with a new boyfriend. Last month, Sophie was pictured alongside a then-unknown man.

The two stood with Pete and his wife wife Paige Yeomans, while at a wedding. Since then, the Gogglebox star has gushed over her new beau, Ben McKeown, on Gogglebox.

Posting on Instagram last week, she shared another snap with Ben. The couple appeared to be enjoying a date night at some dungeons - a popular tourist attraction in most major cities.

The hilarious picture showed Sophie pulling a funny face, while her partner handsomely beamed into the camera. They both held up placards, with Sophie's reading: "Poisoning wells" and his saying: "Being well hung."

Sophie explained why she pulled a face. She captioned the post: "We got told to pull a scared face…. Not all of us got the memo."

Sophie with her new beau Ben (Instagram/Sophie Sandiford)

During a recent episode of the Channel 4 programme, Pete had a cheeky dig at Ben. Recalling his first encounter with Sophie's new man, he blasted him for lying about his height. He joked: "I don't think he's six foot. He doesn't look six foot. Lies, already built on lies, oh dear."

Sophie took it well, and the two often joke at each other's expense. With such a close relationship, you'd be forgiven for thinking they're each other's only siblings - but you'd be wrong. They have another brother and sister, Lucy and Harry.

In fact, the four appeared on TV way before the Sandifords joined Gogglebox, along with mum and dad Julie and Paul. And Elvis the dog, of course.

TalkTalk launched its 'This Stuff Matters' campaign after spending months interviewing families up and down the country. They finally set their sights on the Sandifords from Blackpool.

Mum Julie, Dad Paul, and kids Sophie and Pete - along with their brother and sister Lucy and Harry - and Elvis the dog all took part. They were filmed non stop for two weeks with 17 unmanned cameras to find the perfect "ordinary, everyday moments".

It was after the adverts launched that the Gogglebox producers got in touch. And the rest is TV history.

While Lucy and Harry prefer to stay out of the limelight, Sophie occasionally posts photos with her sisters and brothers on her Instagram. One snap, posted on National Siblings Day, was captioned "The fam".

Gogglebox airs Fridays at 9pm on ITV and the ITV Hub

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