George Gilbey ‘worked hard to turn life around’ for daughter, 7, after jail as he shared sweet post days before death
GOGGLEBOX and Celebrity Big Brother star George Gilbey “worked hard to turn his life around” for his daughter before his tragic death, pals have claimed.
The beloved TV star died after “falling from a height” while working in a warehouse yesterday morning at age 40.
Tributes last night flooded in for George, who had a seven-year-old daughter, Amelie.
Just days before his death he shared a sweet photo of her on his Instagram.
It shows young Amelie smiling and posing on a stairwell with a bouquet of flowers.
George captioned the snap with smiley and heart emojis.
It comes as pals of the TV personality last night revealed he had been working hard to “turn his life around for his family” after he was jailed for three months in 2019 for drink-driving.
They told The Sun: “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.”
His untimely passing comes just three years after the death of his 71-year-old stepdad Pete, who died after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
He was best known for his time on Channel 4‘s Gogglebox where he entertained millions.
He, his mum Linda and stepdad Pete McGarry quickly became fan favourites when they joined in the second series back in 2013.
It comes as…
- Star’s tragic final photo revealed
- George’s cause of death confirmed by cops
- Channel 4 say star was ‘part of family‘
- Tributes pour in for George from celebs
- Star’s mum Linda ‘in bits’ over death
- George’s agony over stepdad’s death revealed
The Essex family were axed from the show in 2014 – but George stepped into the Celebrity Big Brother house the same year.
He was much loved on CBB and made it all the way to the final.
In 2015 he met ex-girlfriend Gemma Conway at Ascot races.
They had daughter Amelie in 2016 but in 2018 George got a community order for assaulting Gemma at their home in Twickenham, South West London.
George, Linda and Pete then returned to the Gogglebox couch in 2016.
Cause of death
George’s cause of death has now been revealed by police.
Essex Police this afternoon 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.”
Channel 4 released a statement saying the star was always part of the “family”.
It read: “George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and stepdad Pete.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George’s family and friends at this very sad time.
“The family have asked for privacy.”
Essex Police this afternoon 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.”
George’s mum ‘in bits’
ONE of George’s close pals told The Sun that his beloved mum, Linda McGarry, has been left devastated over her son’s untimely passing.
They said: “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.”
Pete died suddenly in 2021 at the age of 71 from bowel cancer.
He passed away days after being told he had six months left to live.
Linda said her son had been left “really cut up” at the time.
She said: “Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years.
“I said to him, ‘We’ve not only been 25 years, it’s been day and night with each other.’ He was my life.”
The Sun has approached the HSE for comment.
It comes after his stepdad Pete died suddenly in 2021.
The 71-year-old passed away days after being told he had six months to live after being diagnosed with bowel cancer – with wife Linda saying her son had been left “really cut up”.
She said: “Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years.
“I said to him, ‘We’ve not only been 25 years, it’s been day and night with each other.’ He was my life.
“I have a message from a young lad I know who said, ‘Ordinary people won’t be remembered, but we’ll remember Pete forever – like the pyramids.’ I thought that was beautiful.”
And she added: “He was so proud of George when he was in Big Brother too.
“Him and George really loved each other, George is really cut up.”