Gogglebox stars step away from the show following the deaths of their loved ones
Gogglebox's new series will not feature a number of regular stars following the sad deaths of three cast members in recent months.
Linda McGarry, Carolyne Michael and her two children Louis and Alex, and Marina Wingrove have all stepped away from the Channel 4 hit for the time being, but they have all been given the option to return in the future if it suits them, according to the Daily Star.
Linda's husband Pete died back in July after a short illness, while Carolyne's husband Andy and Marina's best friend Mary Cook both passed away a month later.
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."
On how the production team have also been affected by the sad news, the series boss continued: "It's a massive loss in every way. We feel it too. We are still in touch with all the loved ones.
"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."
Earlier this month, fellow couch favourite Stephen Webb paid tribute to his late co-stars.
"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."
Remembering Pete as "a total sweetheart", he said that Andy "was always truly himself and we really admire how straight talking he was", adding: "You could always tell there was so much love and mutual respect within the Michael family."
Gogglebox airs on Channel 4.
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