Gogglebox people watching the show are feeling very sad about a touching tribute to the late star George Gilbey.
The 40-year-old’s death was confirmed on Wednesday, after a serious ‘work accident’, in Shoebury, Southend-on-Sea.
A man has since been arrested, while fans and Gilbey’s friends have paid tribute, with Channel 4’s Gogglebox earlier sharing in a statement: ‘George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and step-dad Pete. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George’s family and friends at this very sad time. The family have asked for privacy.’
Gilbey first came on our screens in September 2013 on the popular show with his mum Linda and late stepdad Peter, before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother the following year, where he finished in fourth place.
The family returned to Gogglebox in 2016, before Gilbey left two years later and Linda and Pete continued without him until 2020. Pete died in 2021 following a short illness.
At the end of Friday’s episode, Gogglebox honored Gilbey, sharing at the end of the episode: ‘In Loving Memory George Gilbey 1984-2024.’
Fans were devastated, with Jan saying: ‘RIP George, thinking of your Mum who’s lost both her husband and her son now!’
‘Nice touch,’ Emma added, echoed by Jodi: ‘Nice tribute to George at the end.’
Mike added: ‘Nice tribute to George at the end of the episode tonight. So sad 40 is no age. RIP George.’
On Thursday, Essex Police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection to Gilbey’s death. He has since been released under investigation. Inquiries are ongoing.
A colleague who was there when Gilbey fell to his death said he was on the roof of the warehouse with a harness, and fell 80 feet through a skylight before landing on concrete.
They told The Sun: ‘George had not been in a good way and maybe should not have been working at all. He was up on the roof and the others were shouting at him to get down and to be careful.
‘He was shouting back that he was all right, even though he was not very steady on his feet.
‘Then, he apparently came through a skylight so fell from the outside of the roof about 80ft on to concrete inside.’
His mum Linda is said to be devastated, with a source telling The Sun: ‘This will hit his family very hard, especially Linda.
‘George was like her little treasure.’
Gogglebox airs Fridays at 9pm on Channel 4.
