In any job there are rules which you must follow and severe punishments if you disobey your bosses.
It’s exactly the same for Gogglebox – with the families expected to follow a set of guidelines when appearing on the hit Channel 4 series.
No one individual is bigger than the show, as has been proven over the years as the roster of families is always changing but viewers still flock in their millions.
While some decided to leave to pursue exciting new career opportunities, otherwise are forced to leave against their will.
Gogglebox producers aren’t afraid to boot out any family that decides to break the rules that have been set.
But the kind-hearted bosses are also willing to forgive and let rule-breakers back onto the show after sitting out for a while.
Here is a look at what happened to those that broke the show’s rules.
George Gilbey’s Big Brother love triangle
(Image: Channel 4)
The Gilbey’s quickly became one of the most popular families on Gogglebox when they first popped up in September 2013.
Essex-lad George appeared on the sofa alongside his mum Linda and step dad Pete McGarry and left viewers in stitches.
One of the Gilbeys’ best moments came when Linda got confused while watching Chewbacca in Star Wars and referred to the hairy character as “one of those Schumacher things”.
However, they didn’t last for very long on the show as they were booted off after less than a year.
In August 2014, George entered the Celebrity Big Brother house for a rumoured £100,000 fee, despite knowing it was against the rules to appear on a rival show.
Gogglebox producer Chantal Boyle said they would not be in the fourth series as it “wouldn’t work” once he had been in the famous bungalow.
(Image: Channel 4 screengrab)
Boyle said the family had been told in advance they would forfeit their place, but they could not resist the financial offer for George to join the CBB cast.
“It’s all about money. They are pretty cash-strapped and so you can see why they would accept the offer to go on Big Brother,” said Boyle.
“But we can’t have them in the new series of Gogglebox.”
The Gibleys decided to continue with George’s CBB plans so they were immediately axed from Gogglebox.
Confirming the news on Twitter, the family tweeted: “It is true that we won’t be on the next series of Gogglebox. We had a lovely time filming with them and wish the cast and crew lots of luck.”
The gamble did seem to pay off as George became one of the standout stars from that series of Celebrity Big Brother.
(Image: Rex)
Surprisingly, he actually became a bit of a lothario in the CBB house and got embroiled in a love triangle with two famous faces.
Initially he started growing close to Stephanie Pratt and the pair shared a kiss – with George later telling his fellow housemates he was “in love” with The Hills star.
However, it didn’t take George long after Stephanie was evicted to move onto B*Witched singer Edele Lynch.
On the night that Stephanie left they had a cheeky snog outside before kissing in bed together.
George made it all the way to the final and finished in fourth place, but then had to face the wrath of Stephanie when hshe confronted him outside the house.
“I’m obviously a very bad judge of character. Edele’s my best friend and so is George,” said Stephanie on sister show Bit On The Side.
“You [Edele] and George were my best friends in the house, that was the worst betrayal.”
George might have made the wrong decision as he went on holiday with Edele to a caravan park but their romance fizzled out.
The Gilbeys went off the radar until they made a surprise return to Gogglebox in February 2016 after a three series absence to the delight of fans.
The producers told BBC Newsbeat “we are delighted to welcome back Linda, Pete and George” and Studio Lambert which makes the show added: “Very much looking forward to once again hearing their humorous take on telly’s weekly offerings”.
George told Heat magazine: “I feel like the cat that got the cream. I’ve gone out and had my fun for a couple of years and now I get to go back on the show with my family.”
Linda and Pete have been staples of the show ever since while George has made less regular appearances.
The Michaels’ UKIP controversy
(Image: Channel 4)
One of the original Gogglebox families when the show first hit our screens in 2013, the Michaels left in surprising circumstances.
Parents Andrew and Carolyne are usually joined on the sofa by two of their kids, daughter Alex and son Louis.
Other daughter Catheryne appeared in later series and confused viewers with her similarity to Alex, while others son Pascal has not popped up on the show yet but is seen in their social media snaps.
They were a Gogglebox staple for four series until Andrew controversially revealed he was running as an MP for UKIP in the 2015 general election.
Speaking about his new career path, he told the Radio Times: “Having seen 13 families in their natural habitat, you have an insight into British society in its multifarious colours.”
Channel 4 bosses decided that Andrew could not hold a political seat and discuss the week’s telly on their show so the whole family were booted off in December 2014.
(Image: louisrmichael)
“It’s with great regret that the Michaels are no longer in the show,” said a Channel 4 spokesperson at the time.
“Sadly any Gogglebox cast member who becomes a candidate for a political party will have to step down from their involvement in Gogglebox.
“They have been excellent contributors to Gogglebox, and we are very grateful for all they have given to the show.”
It was tough to take for Carolyne in particular, who was was left in tears after being given just five days to choose between the show and her husband’s political aspirations.
“It’s with great sadness that we must say goodbye to the wonderful Gogglebox family. Andy entering politics so can no longer stay with it,” she wrote on Twitter.
“We’ve loved every minute of our involvement. It’s the best show on TV and I want to thank everyone for their wonderful support. We’ll miss you.
“Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year with love and all our heartfelt thanks from all the Michael family.”
(Image: Channel 4)
Because she didn’t want to leave, Carolyne confessed she found it “too painful” to watch the show when they were no longer involved.
But it was seemingly all for nothing as Andrew failed to win the Hastings and Rye seat for UKIP in the election.
However, there was a twist in the tale as the Michaels were invited back in September 2015.
Having tried and failed to become an MP, Andrew decided to put his political career on hold so that his family could return to Gogglebox.
“I have a responsibility to keep my family happy after they supported me last autumn. That was a big deal for us. They supported me then, so it’s my time to support them now,” he told The Sun.
“Now I have stepped down from my official position as prospective parliamentary candidate,” said Andrew, “I was happy to step down in order to pick up Gogglebox.”
They were back for series 6 and have remained on Gogglebox ever since.
*Gogglebox airs Fridays on Channel 4 at 9pm
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/disobedient-gogglebox-stars-who-were-23968816