One of Gogglebox's most beloved former cast members has died at the age of 82.
June Bernicoff, who stared in the show alongside her husband Leon between 2013 and 2017, died at home after a short illness, which was not related to Covid-19.
June and Leon's warmth and easy banter quickly made them among the most popular characters to appear on the reality show. But June left our screens after the tragic death of her husband, saying it simply would not be the same without him.
Just over two years after she lost Leon, June has died surrounded by loved ones.
On behalf of her family, Channel 4 and production company Studio Lambert released a statement which read: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox's much-loved June Bernicoff passed away at the age of 82 on May 5 at home with her family by her side after a short illness.
"As the first couple to be cast for Gogglebox back in 2013, June and her husband Leon were a huge part of the programme's success. Their warmth, wit and contrasting personalities endeared them to the nation during the course of the first 10 series.
"Following Leon's passing in December 2017, June wrote her first book, Leon And June: Our Story, which was a deeply moving and entertaining chronicle of their 60-year love affair.
"A remarkably independent, principled woman with a vivacious sense of humour and a huge passion for life, June will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family, cast and crew.
"Despite her departure from the show in 2017, she remained a passionate supporter of the programme, watching it every week, and she was in regular contact with the production team.
"Our thoughts are with June's family - Helen and Ian, Julie and Marc, and her beloved grandchildren Frances, Sam and Faye. The family would like to ask for privacy at this sad time, but would like to thank the hospice staff that supported them and cared for June so wonderfully and with such compassion in her final weeks."
