Gogglebox star Andy Michael has died at the age of 61 following a short illness, his family has confirmed. The father-of-four, who was one of the original cast members of the Channel 4 show, passed away last weekend with his family by his side.
Andy, a retired hotelier, appeared alongside his wife Carolyne and children Alex and Louis in the very first episode of Gogglebox in 2013. The family became fan favourites for their witty commentary and insights, but were forced to leave the show in December 2014 after Andy announced he would stand as a UKIP candidate in the 2015 general election.
Channel 4 bosses ruled that cast members could not hold political office while appearing on the show, leading to the family's departure. Carolyne described the decision as 'too painful' and admitted she was left in tears after being given just five days to choose between the show and her husband's political aspirations.
Andy ultimately failed to win the Hastings and Rye seat, and the family were invited back to Gogglebox in September 2015. He stepped down as a prospective parliamentary candidate, telling The Sun: 'I have a responsibility to keep my family happy after they supported me last autumn. It's my time to support them now.'
A statement from Channel 4 and Studio Lambert on behalf of the family said: 'We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Gogglebox star Andy Michael at the age of 61 following a short illness. Retired hotelier Andy, who brought much wit and insight to Gogglebox, was one of the show's original cast members, appearing in the very first episode in 2013.'
