I’m back on benefits after being dumped by Sandi on Gogglebox, says Sandra Martin as she opens up on ‘feud’
GOGGLEBOX star Sandra Martin has revealed she’s back on benefits, four years after leaving the show that made her famous.
The 61-year-old from Brixton and her best friend Sandi Bogle, 58, became one of the most popular pairs on the Channel 4 show, as viewers fell in love with their over-the-top reactions.
As the show’s popularity grew, the duo were being invited to every red carpet event, and Sandra claims Channel 4 were paying her more than any other cast member, allowing her to enjoy a “luxury lifestyle”.
But, in 2016, Sandi left to pursue other career opportunities, including a stint on Celebrity Big Brother, sparking rumours of a feud between the pair.
“It was hard,” Sandra tells The Sun. “I had a panic attack, thinking I was going to go back on benefits.”
Sandra managed to find a friend to go on the show with her, but claims producers weren’t keen on having someone with an American accent, so she eventually opted for her daughter Chanchez Martin.
However, that still came with its issues.
Sandra explained: “I didn’t want to talk about sex in front of my daughter on the TV, and I was also getting a lot of backlash like, ‘Where’s Sandi?’
“I could’ve stayed, they offered me real money, but s*** happens.”
Sandra left two years after Sandi and, especially now she’s back on benefits, she regrets the exit.
However, she says the show gave her a platform, which she now uses to raise money for the homeless and other causes close to her heart.
Meanwhile, Sandi also does lots of charity work, as well as performing in pantomime regularly, and is next going to be seen as Glinda the Good Witch in the Wizard of Oz in Lincoln.
Friends forever
Despite the setback, Sandi and Sandra reveal they are still very much friends, with Sandra even going to see Sandi regularly in panto.
As Gogglebox celebrates its tenth anniversary, Sandi tells The Sun: “She comes to support me always. After 50 odd years of friendship, you can’t not be friends!
“No matter what we go through, she’s always got a room here for her, and she’s always got a room for me.
“We’re besties. We’ve been through, ups, downs, thick and thin, the worst, the wears, the tears, the bumps, the laughs.
“That’s friendship. You can’t beat that, no matter what.”
Sandra was also due to appear on Celebrity Big Brother when she left the show but lost her place after talking about it too much.
She has however appeared on a number of other shows including Celebrity First Dates and 100 years younger in 21 days.
A series of stars have left the programme over the years in favour of other TV opportunities, such as Scarlett Moffatt who quit to take part in I’m A Celebrity.
Channel 4 has been approached for comment.