Several Gogglebox stars have faced devastating health challenges over the years, from cancer battles to life-threatening conditions. Since the Channel 4 programme launched in 2013, it has featured memorable households across the nation, including Giles Wood and Mary Killen in Wiltshire, the Siddiqui clan in Derby, and best pals Jenny Newby and Lee Riley in Hull. Many of the show's personalities have candidly shared their ordeals with viewers.
Cancer battles and recovery
Tremaine Plummer, who joined Gogglebox in 2016 with his brothers, celebrated being five years cancer-free in 2020 after suffering from bowel cancer. Alongside a photo of him on a hospital bed, he wrote on Instagram: "When I first saw this photo it made me feel sick and weak. I hated this photo for a long time. But now this photo is my medal. This was me 5 years ago. Post-surgery for bowel cancer." He added: "One of the worst things that could have happened to me has turned into one of the best. Not everything bad that happens to you is the end. Out of some bad s*** comes good s***. The entire experience has been an eye-opener, and I view life totally different now. Stay strong."
In 2021, Gogglebox star Pete McGarry sadly died from bowel cancer at the age of 71. He joined the show with his wife Linda in 2013. Talking about his death, Linda revealed that Pete was told he had six months to live, but sadly died just days later, as The Sun reports. Linda told the publication: "Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years. I said to him, 'We've not only been 25 years, but it's been day and night with each other.' He was my life."
Living with ongoing conditions
Sue Sheehan, who joined the show in 2019 with husband Steve, revealed last year that she was suffering from Bell's Palsy, which has affected how she is able to speak. During an episode of Gogglebox, she explained: "I mean, I've had to relearn to do a couple of things since this Bell's palsy. One is to speak through the side of my mouth, and the other one is chewing. Chewing takes a long time." Steve replied: "I have offered to chew your food for you, but you declined." Sue then fired back: "I'm not having that." Steve went on: "I've got to say, you haven't lost the sharp side of your tongue though, have you?" She joked: "No, it's sharper than ever actually."
Jenny Newby, who joined the show in 2014 with best mate Lee Riley, revealed in 2018 that she has been battling arthritis. Before watching an advert made by the charity Versus Arthritis, Jenny said: "I've got arthritis. I get more stressed now because I can't fasten my coat. I can't open a tin of beans and I've got to ask somebody. And that I think is the worst, when I have got to ask somebody because I feel like I am stupid." In a press release following the advert, Jenny added: "I've suffered with arthritis for a while now. I think something people don't realise is the impact the condition has on simple everyday life. I really do think we should change that by being able to talk about it openly. It's really important to me."
Strokes and brain conditions
Elaine Cooper, a retired music teacher who joined the programme in 2023 with son Seb, suffered a haemorrhagic stroke in 2024 which caused a bleed on the brain. In 2025, she opened up about the ordeal, telling NeedToKnow: "I was completely shocked and heartbroken. They told me part of my brain had been irreversibly damaged. And as there wasn't anything they could do, this was just who I was now." She added that she didn't feel like herself at first before saying: "But I knew I had to keep going and try to make the best of a bad situation." Elaine has since developed double vision and paralysis on her left side, saying: "It's had such a huge impact on my life. I've had to accept that I must use a wheelchair for anything other than moving very short distances."
Shaun Malone, who joined the show with his family in 2014, was diagnosed with a brain condition in 2010 after initially suffering from sinusitis. He spent considerable time in and out of the hospital as a teenager after contracting a life-threatening infection, and doctors gave him less than a 10% chance of survival. Recently, Shaun shared an update on Instagram, disclosing that he had undergone a further operation. "Heatwave is a terrible time to be stuck in hospital until Friday," he penned beside a close-up photo of his post-surgery scar. "Brain surgery is deffo not the highlight of my year [sic]."
Near-death experience
Mary Killen, who has appeared on Gogglebox since 2015 with Giles Wood, had a near-death experience years ago. In a conversation with The Guardian, Mary disclosed: "The closest I've come to death was contracting Legionnaires' disease in 1999." She elaborated: "I caught it from air conditioning in the Bahamas and developed something called Beau's lines: white ridges across the fingernails which are a sign that your body's shutting down for death." Surviving the ordeal, she admitted: "It knocked the stuffing out of me. I've never been quite the same since."
Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.
