Gogglebox cast: Leon and June’s daughter wasn’t happy about Channel 4 show ‘Keep me out’

June Bernicoff and her late husband Leon Bernicoff were among the original stars of Channel 4’s Gogglebox, which launched in March 2013. The couple remained series regulars until his shock death shortly before Christmas 2017 and now his spouse has spoken about how their family really felt when they first signed up. The star appeared on BBC Breakfast today to discuss her new book about their romance and life together. She spoke of her initial worries about what Leon might come out with as well as how their two children felt about the programme.

Host Charlie Stayt asked: “As I understand it, you were a bit worried initially at how he might come across. Would that be fair to say?”

June replied: “Yeah, Leon had no filter. I was thinking, oh my goodness he’s going to say something we’d all regret. But… viewers just took it on board.”

Co-presenter Naga Munchetty continued: “Your daughters weren’t keen, were they? ‘Do not let him say anything on tele’.

“And they would be called up… if they were mentioned at all as well.”

June revealed: “Yes, particularly the eldest because of course she lives here in England. The other one is in New Zealand and she said, ‘You can say what you like, because I’m 11,000 miles away’.

“But Helen was like, ‘Just keep me out of it dad, it’s you and mum – that’s fine’. And of course it fell on deaf ears.”

Meanwhile, during her chat, June revealed what she missed most about Leon, whose death was confirmed on December 23, 2017.

Channel 4 and production company Studio Lambert issued a statement on behalf of his family at the time paying tribute to his “unique personality”.

It read: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sad news that after a short illness Gogglebox’s Leon Bernicoff passed away in hospital earlier today.

“… Leon’s unique personality and sharp wit endeared him to fans of the show, as he contributed fully to Gogglebox’s reputation as a programme full of warm humour and unvarnished opinion.

It went on: ”To those of us that knew him personally, Leon was a man of unwavering principles who exerted a distinct paternal presence both on and off screen. He will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family; cast and crew.

“Our thoughts are with June, his two daughters, sons-in-law and beloved grandchildren – all of whom have asked for their privacy to be respected at this incredibly sad time.”

Charlie asked: “We’re showing clips of you and Leon there, everyone bought into the two of you, your dynamic. Is it helpful for you to see that stuff? Does it bring you comfort?”

June said: “Yes because you hear the voice again. He had a very distinctive voice, so I think I miss that more than anything else.

Naga went on: “What made you write down the story of your life together?”

June added: “Yes, he’d always say, ‘I’m going to write our love story one day’, as if there was something special about it. Then I thought, maybe I’ll do it.

“It was amazing how made me think back to times when we met and our life together, instead of dwelling on the sadness that I was on my own again. Absolutely [it was therapeutic].”

BBC Breakfast airs weekdays on BBC One from 6am, while Gogglebox continues tomorrow at 9pm on Channel 4.

source: express.co.uk