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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

Gogglebox stars who quit from brutal family fallouts to rows with bosses and sofa feuds

With millions of viewers and a whole host of awards, Gogglebox is a jewel in Channel 4's crown.

Viewers can't wait to watch its stars watching telly and consider many of the pundits to be household names.

However, the show caused a bit of a stir recently when Dame Sheila Hancock, 90, claimed she'd been sacked from Celebrity Gogglebox.

The acclaimed actress reckons she wasn't asked back by bosses after expressing dismay at how much nudity she was required to watch.

Maureen Lipman also walked last year after saying 'life is too short to watch a series of hopeless men dangle their bits and pieces in my direction.'

So with their reasons laid bare, we take a look at why some of Gogglebox's other stars chose to quit the show.

Dame Sheila Hancock claimed she'd been 'sacked from Gogglebox (Channel 4)

Paige Deville

Paige - who joined Gogglebox in 2019 with her mum Sally Hayward - announced she was quitting the series two years later.

Speaking about her decision, she told BirminghamLive: "There have been problems within the family and my mum was given an ultimatum. The decision means I have nothing to do with her now. I think the decision is irreversible."

Paige later tweeted: "To clarify, people thinking I fell out with my mom over Gogglebox, my “mom” is an absolute disgrace who I wish to never speak to again due to a serious family issue NOT about a tv show."

Chris Ashby-Steed

Chris quit the show in 2019 having appeared on the sofa with his former partner Stephen Webb.

Following his exit in 2019, Chris spoke to the Mirror about his departure, claiming his ex ended their production deal with Channel 4 without talking to him about it first.

He said: "After he sent that email I didn’t speak to him for a little while because I was hurt by it."

Chris then claimed that the show's producers said the popular pair could appear with new partners on alternate weeks, with Stephen bringing in his mum and the hairdresser's partner Daniel ended up making the cut.

George Gilbey

George Gilbey was dropped from Gogglebox after he agreed to go on Celebrity Big Brother.

His family left the show after George went on the reality show in 2014, writing: "It is true that we won't be on the next series of Gogglebox. We had a lovely time filming with them and wish the cast and crew lots of luck."

Gogglebox producer Chantal Boyle said they couldn't be in the fourth series as it "wouldn't work" once George had been on the famous Channel 5 show.

She added the Gilbeys were told in advance they would forfeit their place, but they couldn't resist the financial offer from CBB.

Silent Jay

You know you've made it on Gogglebox when you don't say a word and become one the most popular stars of the show.

Silent Jay Makin was in a class of his own, however his time on the show came to a sudden end in 2015 when he split up with Eve Woerdenweber, who appeared on the sofa with her mum Viv and German-born dad Ralf from The Wirral.

Speaking about his time on the programme, Jay said he had no regrets, but confessed the break-up 'really hurt'.

Scarlett Moffatt

Arguably the show's biggest success story, Scarlett has bagged herself an enviable career since quitting Gogglebox.

With shows including Saturday Night Takeaway and I'm A Celebrity under her belt, it was clear the Geordie was destined for great things.

When quizzed whether she regretted her decision to leave the show that made her, she told the Express: "Not really because we still do it, it’s just no one’s filming it."

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