Former Gogglebox star Josh Tapper has been elected as a Labour councillor, marking a significant transition from reality television to local politics. Josh first appeared on the Channel 4 show in 2013 at just 15 years old, alongside his parents and sister Amy during the programme's debut series. He left Gogglebox in 2017 after securing a Civil Service apprenticeship, later moving into politics.
Election Victory
On Friday, he successfully won a seat in local government after being elected as a Labour councillor for the Underhill ward in the London Borough of Barnet. Josh received 1,128 votes, winning the seat alongside fellow Labour candidate Zahra Beg in the 2026 local elections. His sister Amy took to her Instagram Stories to congratulate her brother, sharing a beaming snap of him, writing: 'My brother is officially a Councillor! So so proud.'
Previous Political Endeavours
The result comes after a close miss in the 2022 local council election, when he lost out on a seat in Edgwarebury ward by just 43 votes. Two years later, he stood as the Labour candidate for Hertsmere in the general election, finishing in second place.
Commitment to Change
Josh is committed to doing politics differently, aiming to raise standards in public life and show people that 'we can have something fundamentally better.' During his campaign, he said he would 'stand up for every constituent, no matter who they've voted for in the past.' At the time, he said: 'After 14 years of Conservative chaos families are worse off, less safe and have fewer opportunities. As your MP I'll focus on improving our economy so that families are better off. I also want to see more police on the streets and deal with crime like anti-social behaviour and burglaries. Labour will get the NHS back on its feet, switch on Great British Energy, take back our streets and break down the barriers to opportunity.'
Background and Family
The Tapper family became firm favourites on Gogglebox with fans, thanks to their hilarious quips. Josh is the fifth generation of a family who fled persecution in Eastern Europe and came to Britain seeking safety and refuge. At the time, a source told The Mirror: 'Channel 4 will, of course, keep the door open for him [Josh], but it's a really exciting opportunity for him.' Meanwhile, talking about his time on the show, Josh revealed in 2022 that it 'suddenly blew up out of nowhere' for him and his family. He told Jewish News: 'I spent the next five years living that life while also trying to live a normal life. But I was the guy who was on TV. My days were long as we were filming the scenes in addition to school.'
