Gogglebox: June Bernicoff reveals Leon Bernicoff nearly didn’t appear in last episode

Gogglebox favourite June Bernicoff stepped away from the show following the loss of her husband, Leon Bernicoff, in 2017. 

The star passed away in December of that year, aged 83, and fans across the country were devastated to see the lovable cast member gone. 

His final episode aired on Christmas Eve in 2017 and at the time, the Channel 4 show paid tribute to Leon. 

However, wife, June has since spoken about that  time, explaining how he almost didn’t appear in the episode at all. 

She appeared on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 show earlier today and recalled how he wasn’t well just before filming. 

June explained: “He hadn’t been very well over the weekend and I suggested he didn’t do it. 

“The office got in touch and he said: ‘I’m sitting here in my Christmas jumper waiting to entertain the nation!’”

June giggled about Leon being a “diva” over the whole thing. 

She touchingly added how she suggested they pulled out of Gogglebox because of his illness. 

Leon added: “Next series, I’ll be on it, don’t you worry.”

June went on to choose a song to play, and she went for her favourite tune to listen to with Leon, which was Somewhere My Love by Ken Dodd.

Earlier in the year, June spoke about what she misses most about Leon which crops up when she watches old clips of them on Gogglebox.

BBC Breakfast host, Charlie Stayt, asked if she found comfort in old videos.

June said: “Yes it does, because you hear the voice again. He had a very distinctive voice didn’t he?

“So I think I miss that probably more than anything else.”

June, who was penning a book at the time, added how she was following in Leon’s dream.

She recalled: “He always used to say, ‘I’m going to write our love story one day’, you know as if there was anything special about it so to speak. And so I thought, ‘yeah, maybe I’ll do it!’”

Last night on Celebrity Gogglebox, viewers claim Stanley Johnson was snubbed during a segment about Boris Johnson. 

While the cast discussed the Conservative leadership battle, fans couldn’t help but notice Boris’ father wasn’t shown at all. 

Celebrity Gogglebox continues Friday on Channel 4 at 9pm. 

source: express.co.uk