Former Gogglebox star George Gilbey has died aged 40. The reality TV star, who also appeared in Celebrity Big Brother is said to have fallen whilst ‘working at height.’
Former Geordie Shore star Ricci Guarnaccio was one of the first to pay tribute to George, sharing a collection of pictures of himself and George on X, formerly Twitter.
He posted alongside them saying: “Breaks my [heart] but @georgegilbey you are well and truely going to be missed my friend. Always lit up the room, cared for others and the memories we made I’ll cherish for ever brother. From CBB to speaking to you last week, I’m going to hugely miss you ma boiii! Love you G.”
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Ricci’s tribute to George on social media sparked some confusion, with many Instagram users noting George’s account was posting on Instagram Stories minutes on from Ricci announcing his death, the Mirror reports.
Clarifying things on Twitter, Ricci wrote: “Spoke with his sister, happened early of hours of this morning. Accidental death. They don’t know who it is posting on his socials.”
Essex Police said this afternoon: “We received a report of an incident at Campfield Road in Shoebury at around 10am this morning (27 March), during which a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury.
“The ambulance service including air ambulance were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene. We will continue liaising with partners including the Heath and Safety Executive. A cordon remains in place at the scene..”
George was best known for his time on the sofa with his mum and step-dad on Gogglebox. He became a favourite with viewers when he joined the Channel 4 show in its second series in 2013. The family from Essex were taken off the show in 2014, but that same year, George entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, making it all the way to the final.
In 2016, George, along with Linda and Pete McGarry, returned to Gogglebox, much to the delight of many telly viewers. George’s stepdad Pete died suddenly in 2021 aged 71, days after being told he had six months to live after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. Linda said her son had been left “really cut up”
George went into the CBB house alongside the likes of B*Witched star Edele Lynch, Made in Chelsea and The Hill’s Stephanie Pratt, Leslie Jordan, TOWIE icon Lauren Goodger and Geordie Shore’s Ricci Guarnaccio. And it was Ricci who was one of the first to post about George’s death early on Wednesday evening.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
