Reality television personality Olivia Attwood and YouTuber George Clarke are among the new famous faces set to offer their candid critiques of the week’s TV, as Celebrity Gogglebox prepares to return to screens.
The popular Channel 4 series will welcome a host of stars to its sofas, including Gladiators duo Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Nitro) and Matt Morsia (Legend), comedian Julian Clary, and actor Nigel Havers.
Attwood, 35, known for her time on Love Island, will appear alongside her mother, Jennifer.
Reflecting on the experience, she shared: “Doing Celebrity Gogglebox with my mum was chaotic but in the best possible way. It’s not often that we agree on things, which I think the viewers may find entertaining. My family are huge fans of the show so it’s a real honour to be a part of such an iconic British programme.”
Gladiators star Matt Morsia, teasing his involvement, remarked: “Everyone knows how good I am at being on TV, but turns out I’m even better at watching it. Wow. Absolutely incredible sofa performance.
Anyway, I had a great time on the show, and I need to say a massive thank you to Gogglebox for literally paying me to watch TV. What a time to be alive.” His co-star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey added that filming was “pure fun from start to finish, just a proper night-in full of laughs, brilliant TV, and plenty of unexpected moments.”
George Clarke, who was a runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing last year, expressed his enjoyment, stating it “gave me a full excuse to take the mick out of Max on national TV.”
He continued: “He reacts to everything, so you’re never bored. It’s so easy to get into as well, you just sit there, say exactly what you’re thinking, and before you know it, we’ve gone completely off track.” Clarke will be joined by content creator Max Balegde, who expressed excitement to be back filming with Clarke on “one of our favourite TV shows.”
Balegde added: “It’s such a privilege to be a part of the Gogglebox family with such legends and it was so much fun doing what I do best – catching up with a friend over a good TV show and cup of tea.”
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Julian Clary described his Celebrity Gogglebox experience as an “absolute treat” and a “perfectly civilised way to spend an evening.” He quipped: “I do like to think my commentary brought a certain level of refinement to proceedings, and Nigel managed to stay awake, although there is an unsightly stain on my sofa.”
The new additions will join a roster of returning favourites, including Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness, Bez and Shaun, Roman and Martin Kemp, Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely, Nick Grimshaw and niece Liv, the Mangans, and Rylan and his mother Linda.
Also set to return are Mo Gilligan and Babatunde Aleshe, Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan, and Vicky Pattison and Pete Wicks.
Celebrity Gogglebox returns on 5 June at 9pm on Channel 5.