Gogglebox star Ken Harwood has passed away following a brief illness at the age of 77. Show bosses confirmed in an official statement that Ken died last week, announcing they would honour his memory during tonight's episode.
Ken and his wife Anne, from County Durham, celebrated 55 years of marriage and were beloved Gogglebox cast members across series 15 to 19, which aired on Channel 4 between 2020 and 2022.
During their first appearance on the programme, a romantic Ken surprised Anne with a bouquet of 50 roses, marking every year of their marriage. Anne was touched by the gesture, but light-heartedly joked that she had not reciprocated. She said: "You have put me to shame now with a card and roses, and I got you nothing. But you have me and that is all you need."
When the couple joined the show, viewers remarked that they "fitted in" straight away, sharing their views on television moments such as an ITV news report covering Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relocation to Canada. Anne remarked: "She maybe just doesn't like England or Great Britain," to which Ken responded: "Why? Nothing wrong with it... except for the weather."
Born in 1948 in Consett, County Durham, Ken served as a postmaster for 30 years before going on to become a local councillor, eventually retiring in 2013.
A statement from the show's producers read: "Ken will be dearly missed by his wife Anne, sons Simon and Ross, daughter-in-law Elle, grandchildren Freya and Tristram, and all who knew him. There will be a tribute to Ken at the end of Channel 4's episode on Gogglebox tonight."
Earlier this month, former Gogglebox star Josh Tapper appeared on television in a remarkably different capacity, having been elected as a Labour councillor nine years after departing the Channel 4 programme. Josh now represents the Underhill ward in the borough of Barnet. According to reports, Josh secured 1,128 votes, earning him a seat alongside fellow Labour candidate Zahra Beg. Taking to social media, his sister Amy proudly announced the news, writing: "My brother is officially a Councillor! So so proud."
The Gogglebox community has been shaken by a number of heartbreaking losses over the years. In March 2024, former cast member George Gilbey passed away aged 40 following a workplace accident. George featured on Gogglebox alongside his mum Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry from 2013 to 2014 and again from 2016 to 2018. Tragically, in 2024, he lost his life after falling from a height while at work.
Several years earlier, in 2021, Mary Cook sadly passed away aged 92. She had originally appeared on the show alongside her friend Marina Wingrove from 2016 to 2021.
Leon and June Bernicoff were an immediate favourite with viewers when they first appeared on screens in 2013. June departed the show following 83-year-old Leon's death in 2017, subsequently writing a book about her experiences before her own passing in 2020.
