Former Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother star George Gilbey has tragically died aged 40 after an accident at work.
The TV personality, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, rose to fame on the second series of Gogglebox with his mother Linda McGarry and step-father Pete in 2013.
His sudden death comes less than three years after Pete died from bowel cancer aged 71.
The Essex family left the Gogglebox sofa in 2014 when George entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on rival Channel 5 – which was deemed a rule breaker by producers. His parents rejoined Gogglebox two years later.
George, who had a seven-year-old daughter Amelie Iris Gilbey with Gemma Conway in 2016, was part of the fourteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother and even reached the final.
Police confirmed today that George had been working at height when he fell and sustained an injury at around 10am this morning. Despite ambulance crews and air ambulances rushing to the scene, the Gogglebox star did not survive his injuries.
Fellow TV personality Ricci Guarnaccio, who entered the Big Brother house the same year, led the tributes today, writing: ‘Breaks my heart but George Gilbey you are well and truly going to be missed my friend.
This was the last photo that George Gilbey posted of himself on social media – he said he had just bought a gym membership
Former Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother star George Gilbey has died aged 40. Here he is pictured with his mother Linda and late father Pete
George Gilbey is pictured during Celebrity Big Brother in 2014
‘Always lit up the room, cared for others & the memories we made I’ll cherish for ever brother. From CBB to speaking to you last week, I’m going to hugely miss you ma boiii! Love you GG.’
Mr Guarnaccio, who also starred on Geordie Shore, said that George’s death came as a result of an ‘accident at work’.
And a spokesman for Essex Police said: ‘We received a report of an incident at Campfield Road in Shoebury at around 10am this morning (27 March), during which a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury.
‘The ambulance service including air ambulance were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene.
‘We will continue liaising with partners including the Heath and Safety Executive. A cordon remains in place at the scene.’
One of George’s close friends told The Sun: ‘This will hit his family very hard, especially Linda. First, she lost Pete, now her son as well. She is incredibly emotional. George was like her little treasure.’
Tributes from celebrities and friends have flooded in for George who was described as ‘one in a million’.
Former EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook wrote: ‘Gone too soon. Good night, my darling friend George. I’m absolutely gutted xxx.’
Another friend posted: ‘Can’t believe what I’m reading, you were the happiest, the life of the party & such a big part of the HTA family. You will be very missed, rip George.’
His tragic death comes less than three years after his father Pete (right) died from cancer aged 71
Tributes have poured in to the late TV personality who made the final of CBB in 2014
The Gilbey family left Gogglebox in 2014 when George entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on rival Channel 5
George Gilbey is pictured on Celebrity Big Brother. He made the final in the fourteenth series
Fellow TV personality Ricci Guarnaccio, who entered the Big Brother house the same year, paid tribute today
George worked at a Morrisons supermarket during the pandemic
Essex Police said a man had fallen from a height and died on Campfield Road (pictured) in Shoebury
A third said: ‘No words. Rip George James Gilbey. Sending our love to Linda McGarry and the family. So sad.’
And a fourth posted: ‘Absolutely speechless. Rest in eternal peace George James Gilbey. Thinking of all your family, life’s really is cruel & tomorrow is never promised!’
Five years after appearing on CBB, George was jailed for three years for drink driving. He was arrested after petrol station staff smelled alcohol on him.
George admitted to drink driving at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court and was jailed due to serving a community punishment following a drunken bust up with his ex-girlfriend Gemma the year prior.
George and Gemma had met in 2015 at the Royal Ascot Races and announced their pregnancy in February the next year, with the funnyman saying becoming a father was ‘going to totally change my life and I can’t wait.’
Just four days ago, George has posted on Facebook that he had purchased a gym membership and shared a photo of him sweating after a workout.
He captioned the photo, which sat alongside another picture of a gym card: ‘Done. Full membership.’
During the pandemic, George also revealed that he was working at a Morrisons supermarket.
‘Everyone’s gotta do their bit… ‘, the reality TV star captioned his image at the time as he joined thousands of staff working during the global crisis.
