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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Gemma Jones

Where are the original Gogglebox cast members today

Gogglebox has graced our screens since 2013.

In that time the nation has fallen in love with watching families and friends getting their weekly dose of top shows. We laugh with them, cry with them and look forward to seeing them on the Channel 4 show each week.

Many cast members have come and gone on the unusual styled show - some have moved on to become celebs such as Scarlett Moffatt, some left for personal reasons, including Liverpool's very own Emma and David and others have sadly passed away, such as the beloved Leon and June.

READ MORE: Gogglebox's Lisa Baggs shares brunette throwback pic as she pays tribute to late nan

Over its eight-year run, there have been a staggering number of families who have graced our screens, but we will all remember the show's original contestants.

OK Magazine compiled a list of what the originals are up to now.

The Michaels

The Michaels were one of the original families on the show when it first aired in 2013, but were kicked off the show only a year later.

Dad Andrew was always joined by wife Carolyne and two of their kids, daughter Alex and son Louis. The family were widely-loved across the UK, until father Andrew announced he was running as an MP for UKIP in the 2015 general election.

Channel 4 bosses decided that Andrew could not hold a political seat and sit on his sofa discussing the week's telly, so the whole family were booted off in December 2014 following a four-season run. According to wife Carolyne, they were only given five days to choose between their Gogglebox position or Andrew's aspiring political career.

However, their departure was short-lived, as Andrew failed to win the Hastings and Rye seat for UKIP in the election and the family were invited back in September 2015. Andrew decided to put his political career on hold so that his family could return to Gogglebox, so they returned for series six and been on the show ever since.

Stephen and Chris

The hairdressing duo had viewers in stitches every week with their sarcastic one-liners and hilarious gags, and one, in particular, will forever sit in the Gogglebox hall of fame.

"We all like a bad boy though, don't we," admitted Chris as he sat watching the TV. As they were watching a hard-hitting programme, baffled Stephen replied: "Yeah, not a f***ing terrorist though Chris," - ICONIC.

Chris and Stephen, who previously dated before the show but remained close friends, seemed as close as ever on air during 10 series together. However, behind-the-scenes the pair were secretly locked in a bitter feud which destroyed their friendship forever, and drove Chris to a point of depression.

After a lot of back-and-forth, which included various offers for the pair to jump ship, Stephen refused all offers he had to work with ex Chris, and left the show. Following a short break off the show, Stephen returned, initially accompanied by his hilarious mum Pat for two seasons before his husband, Daniel Lustig-Webb, took over in 2019 and became a series regular.

Sadly Chris has not returned to our screens, but lives happily with husband Tony, who he tied the knot with back in 2017.

Steven Dermott and Michael Wilcock

The two best friends, who came from Liverpool, only appeared in the first two series.

They failed to make that big of a mark on the show and left without much fanfare at the end of their second stint. Not much is known about what happened to Michael afterwards.

But his close pal Steven has gone on to become a bit of a TikTok sensation - having racked up nearly 800,000 followers and a staggering 8.8m likes on the social media platform.

The Tappers

The Tapper family, which consists of mum Nikki, dad Jonathan and siblings 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 that he had firmly slammed that door shut while entering Downing Street.

“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,” he said 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.

Then in October 2018, younger sister Amy also quit the show to take part in Celebs Go Dating. The coronavirus pandemic nearly had a devastating impact on the family as dad Jonathan was left fighting for his life.

Amy admitted she was left distraught over his condition, fearing he would stop breathing. Thankfully, Jonathan made a full recovery and the family credited his recent weight loss to helping him fight the virus.

Steph and Dom

Gogglebox just really isn't the same without original stars Steph and Dom Parker.

They were best known on the show for their witty one-liners and not ever being without a glass of bubbles in their hand. After four years on Gogglebox, the pair quit to go on to other projects and to continue running their bed and breakfast, The Salutation, in Kent.

They starred in reality TV shows such as Four In a Bed, Celebrity Masterchef and The Jump, which left Dom with suspected concussion after a nasty fall. They even took to the stage for 2017's Let's Sing and Dance For Comic Relief to perform Dead Ringer For Love by Meatloaf and Cher.

They recently hosted their very last talkRADIO show after a 20-month stint on the airwaves. In March this year, the husband and wife duo revealed the sad news that they were shutting the doors to their £5million hotel after it went bust.

The Allens

Gogglebox fans used to tune in to watching the antics of the Allen clan, who only had a two season run on the show.

They were made up of three sisters, Charlotte, Gemma and Louise, who all looked strikingly similar to each other. The siblings, who lived in Essex, were all living at home with their parents when they starred on the show during series one and two.

Charlotte reportedly had a job in fashion when she started on the show, but they have all disappeared from the public eye since they left.

Leon and June

It's emotional writing about Gogglebox's Leon and June, who were arguable TV's most perfect couple.

The Liverpudlian OAPs were two of the show's most popular stars, with their senses of humour and love for one another raking in fans. Having been on the show since 2013, Gogglebox viewers and its stars were absolutely devastated to hear that Leon had passed away in December 2017 following an illness.

Heartbroken widow June left Gogglebox straight after the death of her husband, saying it just wouldn't be the same without him. The widow admitted she struggled struggled to enjoy the things she had loved with her beloved Leon beside her.

"I don't watch much TV these days, if I'm honest. I find it difficult," June told the Liverpool Echo, "I've been reading a lot more, or listening to the radio, but I just feel restless whenever I sit down to watch it.

Tragically, June died on May 5, 2020, just three years after losing Leon. Channel 4 and production company Studio Lambert issued a statement on behalf of her family, confirming the sad news.

"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," it read. "Their warmth, wit and contrasting personalities endeared them to the nation during the course of the first 10 series."

Gill Gibson and Helen Tait

This mother and daughter duo only appeared on the very first series of Gogglebox back in 2013.

Gill and Helen, who came from Maidstone, did not stay for another series. They have never been back on TV and not much is known about what they are doing now.

Sandi and Sandra

Hysterical duo Sandra Bogle and Sandi Martin were two of the most iconic Gogglebox stars to ever grace our screens.

But the takeaway-loving pair were torn apart in 2016 when Sandi decided to leave the show in order to pursue other opportunities. This left Sandra to continue on the show, and was instead joined by her daughter Chanchez.

Now a famous face, Sandi took part in many reality TV shows, including Celebs On The Farm, Celebrity 100% Hotter and Celebrity Fat Fighters. She also entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2017 - where she was sixth to be evicted.

Unfortunately for pal Sandra, the on-screen banter wasn't quite the same with her daughter, so she quit in July 2017. Sandra lived in a hotel after moving out of her house once she quit the Channel 4 show, but then revealed she had spent all the money she had earned.

"All my friends were on benefits, so when I got Gogglebox it was like I’d won the jackpot," said Sandra, who lost pals after they used her for her cash. "If one of my friends needed £100 then I’d give it to them. I’d always be getting the drinks in and buying the food. I didn’t mind at first but then people started taking advantage, so I had to get out.”

Chris and Colin Staples

Chris and Colin were a father and son duo from Manchester.

They didn't really have enough time to find their footing on the show as they left after just one series and have since disappeared completely from the world of TV.

The Siddiquis

As one of the original Gogglebox families, the Siddiquis were pioneers for the series when it started.

The Derby-based family is made up of dad Sid and brothers Baasit and Umar, but they have previously been joined by other brother Raza. Retired engineer Sid, who moved from Pakistan aged 16, has been married for 37 years and also has two daughters, but none of the women of the family have appeared on the show.

IT teacher Baasit is a father-of-two, sharing daughter Amelia and son Theodore with his wife Melissa. Baasit regularly posts photos of his children and other half on social media.

On a family day out this summer, he wrote: "Lots of family fun with these lovely people. Got to love your daily family walk when the weathers this nice." Amelia has actually made the odd appearance on Gogglebox with her dad, uncle and granddad Sid.

Umar is also married but his wife has not featured on the programme either. While dad Sid stopped appearing on the show when lockdown began, brother Baasit and Umar came under fire for moving households and sitting together for the show.

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