Gogglebox cast: 'Leon was the star’ June Bernicoff hints she didn’t want to do the show
GOGGLEBOX cast member June Bernicoff, who previously starred on Channel 4 show Gogglebox, hinted she was indecisive about appearing on the reality show and had to be convinced.
This Morning: Gogglebox’s June on life without husband Leon
Former Gogglebox favourite June Bernicoff, 81, admitted her late husband Leon was up for the casting straight away, but she wasn’t.
She revealed: “I did [need convincing], but Leon didn’t. He was Mr Gogglebox.
“There was no doubt about him being on it. Leon was the star of the show.”
Leon and June were one of the first couples to join Channel 4 Gogglebox when it launched in 2013.
Their final episode was aired at Christmas after retired teacher Leon passed away aged 83 following a short illness.
Following the death of Leon, June revealed she has no plans to return to the show.
She told OK! Magazine: “We were Leon and June, and that’s the key point.
“Now there’s no Leon, there is no Leon and June.”
Leon and June were known for their flippant bickering and opinions on the show and June recently admitted she missed their heated discussions.
She told The Mirror: “I miss his generosity, his kindness, his laughter, his decisiveness, his touch and his voice – ‘June!’ – especially when I am out of the room.
"I miss him sitting in his chair with his head lost in the paper. But, most of all, I miss talking to him about all the different things we talked about.
"I even miss those incredibly heated discussions we used to have.”
News of Leon’s death was announced on the programme’s official Twitter page.
They penned: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and #Gogglebox legend Leon.
“We will all miss him so very dearly. Our thoughts are with June and family at this incredibly sad time.”
Leon and June met in 1955 at a teacher training college and they married five years later.
The duo previously gushed about their love for each other in a candid interview.
Leon told S Magazine: “I was entranced with June, I still am.”
Explaining the moment they kissed at a football club dance, he continued: “Then I said, ‘Do you want to go back to the dance or do you want to go for a walk?’ and she said, ‘I don’t mind,’ so we went for a walk and I kissed her for the first time.”
“Very forward, wasn’t he?” June added. “Took advantage of an innocent person.”
Gogglebox airs tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm.