Gogglebox may be one of the most entertaining shows on television, but its stars are not actors. Instead, they come from a variety of backgrounds, with jobs ranging from factory cleaner to professional footballer. Each family or group reportedly receives around £1,500 per month to share, plus free takeaways, in exchange for watching 12 hours of TV per week across two six-hour shifts.
Among the current cast, Dave and Shirley from Caerphilly have been married for over 40 years. Dave works as a cleaner in a factory, while Shirley is in retail. Dave also has a passion for baking and is a big fan of The Great British Bake Off. The three Siddiqui brothers, who joined in 2017, are football enthusiasts: Tristan plays as a winger for Hereford FC, and Twain plays for Bradford Town.
The Michaels family, known for their witty commentary, includes parents Carolyne and Andy, both retired after Andy's career as a hotelier. Andy famously stood as a UKIP candidate in 2018, forcing the family to temporarily leave the show. Their son Louis studies at the University of Chichester, while daughter Alex holds a Masters in Computer Science. Another daughter, Katie, occasionally sits in for Alex, and son Pascal studies Neuroscience in Aberdeen.
Former stars June and Leon met while training to be teachers; Leon was a history teacher and June taught English before retiring. Leon passed away in December 2017, and June decided not to return. Stephen Webb and Chris Steed, who worked as hairdressers, are no longer on the show together, but Stephen now appears with his mother, Pat.
