Sandra Martin, one of the original stars of Gogglebox, has announced her departure from the show, leaving only a handful of original cast members. The 57-year-old appeared in the first series in 2013 alongside her best friend Sandi Bogle, and the pair became hugely popular for their humorous commentary from Sandra's sofa.
Sandi left in 2016 to pursue a music career, with speculation that she might appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Sandra was later joined by her daughter Chanchez. Now, with Sandra's exit, fans are questioning the show's direction. A new spin-off, Vlogglebox, focusing on internet videos and memes, is in development.
The show has seen several original members leave in recent years. Scarlett Moffatt, who rose to fame on the show with her family, quit after winning I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! to pursue a presenting career. The 'posh couple' Steph and Dom Parker also departed indefinitely in 2016, and Jay Woerdenweber, known as 'Silent Jay', stopped appearing after his breakup with Evie Woerdenweber.
With so many original faces gone, the future of Gogglebox remains uncertain. Whether the show can maintain its appeal without its founding stars is yet to be seen, but the upcoming spin-off suggests the format may be evolving.
