George Gilbey's heartbroken family member pays tribute to 'kind and gentle' ... trends now
Family members have paid tribute to 'kind and gentle' Gogglebox star George Gilbey following his sudden death on Wednesday morning.
The 40-year old former TV personality fell to his death while working in Shoebury, near Southend-On-Sea in Essex, just three years after losing his stepfather to bowel cancer.
Gilbey's heartbroken relative Sabrina Browning has since shared a tributes to her older brother with Instagram followers.
'My heart is in absolute pieces,' she wrote on Thursday. 'You will be missed so much, no words can explain the kind and gentle heart you showed to all you loved and cared for, thank you for everything, rest in eternal paradise brother.'
Browning also shared a series of photos, among them an image of Gilbey holding one of the two TV BAFTA Awards won by Gogglebox after being named Best Reality and Constructed Factual show in 2014 and 2022.
Family members have paid tribute to 'kind and gentle' Gogglebox star George Gilbey following his sudden death on Wednesday morning
Gilbey became a household name on Gogglebox alongside mother Linda and stepfather Pete
Blessed with a lively sense of humour, the Essex native charmed viewers with his jocular attitude and his loving relationship with his mother Linda McGarry and step-father Pete.
An appearance on Celebrity Big Brother introduced him to a new legion of fans, and appeared to confirm his rising star among the UK's TV scene.
But behind the jokes and the banter, Gilbey appeared to have some trouble adjusting to the fame he found with the hit Channel 4 show and ending up in court for his off-screen behaviour.
He wasn't seen on TV again after being convicted of trying to strangle the mother of his child, and a prison sentence for drink driving appeared to seal the end of his Gogglebox career.
His death at the age of 40 yesterday in a workplace accident - just three years after step-father passed away from bowel cancer - sparked a wave of tributes from former co-stars and fans alike.
Heartbroken friends have claimed that after a troubled few years, the star had been working hard to get his life back on track for the sake of his much-loved daughter.
A police cordon in place at EGL Homecare on Wednesday, where the tragedy is understood to have unfolded. A large blue cherry picker can be seen leading up to the roof
The former reality TV star rose to fame on Gogglebox with his mother Linda and step-father Pete (pictured together in 2015)
Speaking to The Sun, they said the loss of the father-of-one would hit his family hard, especially his mother Linda given it is so close to the passing of her husband.
They said: 'Nobody deserves this to happen so young - 40 is no age. He had started going to the gym and working very hard to do well for his family.
'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.
'He was a good bloke with a big heart who loved his family. He was a bit of a party lad, but he was good entertainment.'
When he first appeared the second season of Gogglebox in 2013, few could have imagined what the next decade had in store for the then-30-year-old.
Flanked by mother Linda and step-father Pete at their home in Clacton-on-Sea, the family became a regular and welcome
