Celebrity Gogglebox viewers were left puzzled on Friday, July 3, when comedian Babatunde Aleshe was notably absent from the latest episode of the Channel 4 spin-off. The show, which returned for a new series, featured a mix of familiar faces and newcomers, but fans quickly noticed that Babatunde was missing from his usual spot alongside Mo Gilligan.
Familiar Faces and New Additions
The episode welcomed back fan favourites such as Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan, Nick Grimshaw and his niece Liv, and pals Richie Anderson and Ellie Simmonds. New additions included Olivia Attwood with her mum Jennifer, and Harry and Matt, known as Nitro and Legend from Gladiators. Strictly star George Clarke and content creator Max Balegde, as well as comedian Julian Clary and actor Nigel Havers, also joined the line-up.
Babatunde's Absence Sparks Confusion
Instead of Babatunde, Mo Gilligan was joined by fellow comedian Eddie Kadi, known for his appearance on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. The change left viewers baffled, with one posting on X: "Where's @BabatundeComedy tonight @MoTheComedian?" On Gogglebox's Instagram, Mo shared a clip with Eddie, prompting comments like "BABATUNDE?! WHERE THE HELL IS HE?!" and "Where's Babatunde?"
New Stars Share Their Excitement
Olivia Attwood, making her Celebrity Gogglebox debut, described the experience as "chaotic but in the best possible way." She added: "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."
Strictly 2025 finalist George Clarke said: "I loved it, mainly because it gave me a full excuse to take the mick out of Max on national TV. 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!"
Coronation Street legend Nigel Havers shared: "It's a dream come true working with Julian on Gogglebox. I can't think of a better way to spend an evening... (Julian wrote this)."
Where Is Babatunde?
As of now, neither Babatunde nor Channel 4 has commented on his absence. Fans continue to speculate on social media, hoping for his return in future episodes. Celebrity Gogglebox airs Fridays at 9pm on Channel 4.
