New families to join Gogglebox over course of new series

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 4h

Gogglebox executive producer Victoria Ray outlines plans to introduce new families over the course of the series.

Gogglebox showrunner Victoria Ray has revealed that a host of new families will be introduced to the show over the course of the new series.

The Channel 4 show has been hit with the sad deaths of three of its most popular cast members in recent months - Pete McGarry, 71; Andy Michael, 61; and Mary Cook, 92.

Pete's wife Linda, Andy's wife and children and Mary's best friend Marina have all decided not to return, while mother-and-daughter combo Sally Hayward and Paige Deville have decided to quit.

The new series started last week and featured the return of the Baggs family from Essex, although the show is still light on cast members so newcomers will be added to the lineup in the coming episodes.

"There are going to be new faces. They'll be joining during the current series," Ray is quoted as saying by the Daily Star.

"We pick people who don't want to be on telly. The ideal people are ones who don't know that they're funny.

"We like people who are charismatic, engaging and who don't necessarily see themselves as TV personalities.

"It's good when they have no filter because then they don't second-guess themselves when they're talking.

"We basically want people that you warm to and want to see in your living rooms."

Gogglebox continues Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.