Gogglebox’s Paige Deville shocked fans on Friday afternoon by spectacularly quitting the show via a Twitter message.
The 25-year-old, who had appeared with mum Sally for the past four series, announced that they wouldn’t be returning for new episodes as she found the show ‘too restrictive’ and wasn’t happy with the ‘zero aftercare’ received from the production team.
However, she’s since said that it was largely due to a private fallout with her mum that ended their on-screen partnership and time on the series.
But she also lifted the lid of what life was like taking part in the series, from their odd working hours to their fee for participating in the Friday night favourite.
Here’s just some of the things she spilled the beans about...
How do you get on Gogglebox?
Getting on Gogglebox is trickier than it looks as there’s currently no official audition process for the series.
Instead, they send out Channel 4 talent scouts around the country to spot people who could be good, and then invite them to audition.
According to BirminghamLive , in Paige’s case she was offered the audition after being spotted in a hairdressers.
Agreeing to appear with her mum, the duo soon became a permanent fixture after joining in 2019.
How do they film Gogglebox?
In the case of Paige and Sally, it seems that they were ‘stand-by’ participants of the series, with the 25-year-old explaining they would often get last-minute calls to fill in when others weren’t available.
"There are more popular characters on the show than myself and my mum like Pete and Sophie and the Malones,” she said.
“When they weren't available producers would contact us and ask us to film at the drop of a hat which we would do.”
However, the sessions would last about nine hours a piece, with several people arriving in the house to rearrange the furniture and set up the shots.
Paige accused the series of not allowing them to take breaks except to use the loo, instead eating while the cameras rolled.
They also discouraged use of make-up to appear more ‘at home and casual’.
"At one point my mum had her arm around me for four hours and they didn't want her to move her arm,” she said. “It isn't as glamorous as you might think. It is very hard work.
"On another occasion, they asked if I would put a hair in my food so I could accuse my mum of giving me dinner with a hair in it just as a source of conversation on the show.”
How much are you paid?
While it’s not known if this is across the board or not, Paige said both she and her mum received £100 per filming session.
There could be up to three sessions per week. If you throw in the nine-hour expected filming time, it roughly works out to just over a tenner an hour.
“We weren't getting paid much but Gogglebox staff would be using your electric, your soap, your toilet paper. It started to grate on me,” she said.
Gogglebox Aftercare
According to Paige’s Twitter message, the star felt there was ‘zero aftercare’ for her and her family.
She later elaborated and claimed that she had been attacked by trolls but not much was done to help her adjust to life in the spotlight.
As a result, Paige would do her shopping late at night in the hopes that she wouldn't be seen.
She said: "You are treated like a celebrity but you are not paid celebrity wages. I go shopping at 10pm at night because if I go in the day I get hassled by Gogglebox fans.
"My life has changed by all recognition. I just hope I can now reclaim some normality now I have left the show."
Following her claims, a Gogglebox spokesperson said: "The welfare of contributors – past and present – is of paramount importance and robust protocols are in place to support contributors before, during and after taking part in the series.”
Gogglebox airs Fridays at 9pm on Channel 4.
