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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
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Kyle O'Sullivan

Gogglebox star Giles Wood 'retired at 21' and makes a fortune from second job

Gogglebox star Giles Wood is one of the most popular stars of the hit reality TV show.

First appearing in 2015, he and beloved wife Mary Killen struck a cord with fans in part due to their dry humour and hilarious commentary.

READ MORE - Mortified couple find 'unusable' kitchen after getting keys to dream new build

But the popular couple, who have been married for more than 30 years, are actually quite mysterious, and not that much is known about the pair's private life.

Each week we get to see inside Giles and Mary's eccentric country cottage in Wiltshire and know that they frequently call each other the adorable nickname 'Nutty'.

Giles, who contributes to online magazine The Oldie, met Mary when he was 21 while studying at Wimbledon Art School when she was a model, reports our sister title the Daily Mirror.

Lovely Mary is the Spectator's resident agony aunt and writes a column using her etiquette expertise - as well as being the author of many books, including 2012's How the Queen Can Make You Happy.

But Giles retired at an incredibly early age and has a rarely-mentioned second job.

While watching a documentary on coronavirus, Giles stated: "Just as I'm starting to enjoy my retirement."

But Mary quickly shot back: "What retirement? You haven't worked first.

"You retired at 21, so now you can start working – do it in reverse."

When he's not discussing the week's telly, Giles is working as an artist and has his own artist website, where he explains what his influences are.

He enjoys painting the clutter of peoples' lives and popular demand has recently led him away from his trademark landscapes to specialise in interiors

On the site, Giles says: "I like the contemplative aspect — sitting for several days in a room, watching the light change.

"There are as many changes as with a landscape. I always work in oils as they give more depth. The finished painting should offer an insight into the painter as well as the subject."His artwork includes beautiful paintings of homes and landscapes, with some framed prints selling for up to a whopping £250.

Although Giles might have to use some of his art money to fix up their cottage, which has fallen into a state of disrepair and been dubbed 'The Grottage'.

Despite being considered one of the posher stars of the show - and are even said to be friends with Boris Johnson - last year it emerged that their home needed urgent fixing.

Speaking to The Telegraph some years ago, the couple revealed that the paint had started peeling from their ceilings and they were once forced to create makeshift double glazing with bubble wrap.

At the time, they also revealed that the property had no central heating and claimed that their kitchen was full of mould and ‘worse than Benefits Street.’

Despite their home reportedly looking slightly rough around the edges, it has remained their base for over 28 years while they work as well as record Gogglebox.

There have been a few guest appearances from their dog in their cottage, but there are some more family members who have not popped up on our screens.

The couple have two grown-up daughters who are yet to show up on camera - and of them was actually due to be partnered with Giles.

However, she decided not to take part, but thankfully Giles managed to convince Mary to come onboard after a lengthy phone call with producers.

Little is known about Mary and Giles' daughters but it has been revealed that they are both grown and no longer live at home with their parents.

In the cute throwback snap posted on Instagram in May last year, the doting parents could be seen cuddling up to their two girls in an old black and white snap.

Lots of people commented on the cute photo - and many were actually swooning over a youthful-looking Giles.

Mary previously revealed that one of their daughters would occasionally "turn on" Giles for swearing.

Speaking to The Guardian about banning swearing in their house, Mary explained: "There’s so much on telly, I don’t want it in my own cottage.

"Giles swears occasionally because he’s always having minor accidents. Our children turn on him and tell him off. Poor Giles."

While the couple do occasionally bicker when appearing on Gogglebox, fans love how they refer to each other as 'nutty'.

The pair have since addressed the endearing reference behind the pet name and explained that they are simply both a bit 'neurotic.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Mary said: "We call each other 'nutty' because we both consider the other to be a bit mad.

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