Gogglebox deaths 2021: what happened to Pete, Mary and Andy - and are their families in cast of new series?

Gogglebox has returned for another series and many familiar faces will be back on our screens every Friday night.

However, the show has tragically lost some of its cast members, as three stars of the show passed away prior to the new series.

Fans and the production team have expressed their sympathy and the show won’t be quite the same without Mary, Pete and Andy.

Here is what their families and the Channel 4 show said prior to the show returning for series 18.

Which cast members have passed away?

On 28 June, Pete McGarry’s wife Linda told how he had passed away from cancer after being told he had just months to live.

Pete, 71, and Linda had starred on the show since 2013 and were frequently joined by her son, George Gilbey.

Just two months later, Channel 4 announced the passing of 92-year-old Mary Cook. She and bestfriend Marina Wingrove lived in the same retirement home.

Cook passed away in hospital after a short illness surrounded by her family.

Days after Mary’s death was announced Channel 4 released a statement from the Michael’s family, in which it said Andy Michael had passed away aged 61.

The network said he had suffered a short illness.

Will their families still take part in Gogglebox?

As Gogglebox returns to Channel 4 on Friday, 17 September, Channel 4 announced some of the cast members would not be returning for the foreseeable future.

Linda McGarry, Carolyne Michael and her two children Louis and Alex, and Marina Wingrove have all stepped away from the show, but producers have confirmed that the door remains open for any of them to return should they wish.

Gogglebox executive producer Victoria Ray commented: "We have had people from the show pass away recently. We lost Mary and Andy. And a little while ago we lost Pete.

"Their loved ones won’t be taking part in the show for the moment. Understandably, they want their privacy."

She also told the Daily Star that the production team have also been affected by the sudden deaths of three star.

"It’s a massive loss in every way. We feel it too. We are still in touch with all the loved ones,” she said.

"We talk to them all the time. They are still part of the Gogglebox family. We are really close to all the people on the show, so what has happened has been really upsetting for the whole team.”

How have their co-stars paid tribute?

Co-stars have also paid tribute to Andy, Pete and Mary.

Steven Webb, who stars on the show with his husband Daniel Lustig, said its “been a really hard time,” for the show’s cast.

Remembering Mary, he said: "Mary was a sweet, lovely lady, but with some brilliant innuendo and one-liners up her sleeve.

"We loved watching her and Marina together – their popularity shows that whatever age you are, you can still connect with younger people through humour."

Webb also started on the show as an original member alongside Andy Michael.

He said: "Andy was always truly himself and we really admire how straight talking he was. You could always tell there was so much love and mutual respect within the Michael family."

The cast recently won a National Television Award for Best Factual Show, while accepting the award they dedicated it to the three late cast members.

Julie Malone said: "On behalf of the Gogglebox family, I would just like to say a massive thanks for this award and on a sadder note, I’d like to dedicate it to all the people we’ve lost over the last 18 months.

"Andy, Pete, Mary and everybody’s favourite grandma June who has been reunited with Leon."

June Bernicoff starred on the show from 2013, alongside her husband Leon. The pair were fan favourites and Leon passed away just before Christmas in 2017. June died following a short illness, on 5 May 2020.

When is Gogglebox series 18 on TV?

The new series Gogglebox will air from September 17, at 9pm on Channel 4.