Gogglebox returned to Channel 4 on Friday, September 9, after a summer hiatus, with many regulars including Welsh couple Dave and Shirley Griffiths back on screens. The show aired despite many programmes being postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.
A Channel 4 spokesperson stated: "Channel 4 has made significant changes to our schedule, including added extended news coverage, to ensure that Channel 4 is respectful following the news from Buckingham Palace about the death of Her Majesty The Queen. Channel 4 exists to offer viewers an alternative and that is particularly important at times like this. Gogglebox is a much loved national institution and it will air as planned tonight bringing a valuable sense of continuity for many of our viewers."
However, viewers noticed the absence of the Malone family from the first episode, prompting fears they had quit the show. One viewer asked: "Where are The Malones? Hope they haven’t left the show." Another wondered: "What's happened to the Malones #Gogglebox."
The family quickly clarified on social media that they were on holiday. In a video, Tom Malone explained that he, his wife Julie, and their children were in Florida and would miss the first "few" episodes. He said: "Here we are on holiday, Jesus it doesn't feel like it with all of this lot, I can tell you that. But we are in Florida so we are not there for the first couple of shows."
Gogglebox continues on Friday nights at 9pm on Channel 4.
