George Gilbey was a devoted father and the light of our lives, says close pal and Celeb Big Brother co-star Ricci G
CELEBRITY Big Brother star Ricci Guarnaccio has paid tribute to late pal George Gilbey, calling him a ‘light of our lives’.
The pair first met while in the Big Brother house back in 2014, becoming tightly bonded thanks to their similar sense of humour.
Long after the show finished, Ricci (who placed eighth) and George (who came in fourth in the finale) remained close, with the pair quickly enjoying night life together with their co-stars.
George, who first found fame on Gogglebox, left family and friends devastated after he died in an accident at work this week aged 40.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Ricci remembered his pal fondly and said: “He was just a loveable person. Honestly, the cheeky… he was just cheeky as f**k! We had some laughs I can’t even describe to you. Being from Newcastle and he was in his southern life, like proper ‘alright mate’, one of them Jack the Lads, and it was kind of… we just all clicked.”
“I think what he’ll liked to be remembered as, you know, as a loving, caring father to be honest with you. I think his daughter meant the world to him and, you know, she was the most important thing in his life.”
George was father to seven-year-old Amelie, and had reportedly vowed to turn his life around for her following jail time in 2019 for drink-driving and splitting from his partner.
“Forgetting everything else, it’s tough being a parent,” Ricci said. “I can’t imagine obviously because him and his ex have been separated, so being a single parent and trying to you know, do everything as a solo parent, it’s difficult. Especially this day and age where everything is getting a lot more expensive.”
“It’s crazy how this has happened, you know, from speaking on message last week to this now, honestly, I can’t even describe the feeling,” an emotional Ricci added to us. “I was up at quarter past six this morning, I’m literally laying in bed and I’m just like, ‘what the hell’s going on? with everything?’ It’s crazy.”
Remembering the good times they had together, Ricci joked that his first impression of George was “a genuine, typical, southern lad who loved a pint.”
“He was just […] he’s a typical down to earth lad,” Ricci said. “Wanting to please everyone, wanting to be everyone’s friend, and like I said, he was the one that sort of stayed in touch with everyone.”
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As a result, news of George’s death has reunited the housemates in their grief.
“I know with Dee [White] and myself, I know we spoke not too regularly but spoke here and there,” Ricci explained.
“Dee, I spoke to her as soon as it happened, she was crying her eyes out, as you can imagine. Frenchy sent messages and couldn’t believe it. Audley Harrison did as well.”
The CBB star passed away after “falling from a height,” the Essex police confirmed. A follow-up statement confirmed an arrest has since been made.
A police spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing investigation into the death of a man in Campfield Road, Shoebury on Wednesday 27 March, we have arrested a man in their 40s from the Witham area on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
“This is a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive and our enquiries are ongoing.”
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.”
Ricci said he has since spoken to George’s mum, Linda, to check in on her, and while they are naturally heartbroken they have taken solace in the idea that Amelie will remember her father in some way.
“I’ve literally just been sat on the phone with Linda, and you know, she’s like, [Amelie and George] had a great relationship, he was fun, they were great together, and, you know, I think she’s at that age where she’s gonna be able to remember him,” he said.
“I think that’s what Linda was saying, you know, if she’d been a bit younger and not been able to carry them little memories that she might be able to sort of self-possess and have when she’s older…
“But given the instance, they had a relationship and with her he was a great father and he loved and adored her, like any father normally should do.
” They had a great relationship for what I know, and, he was he was just trying to make ends meet and trying to be there for his daughter.”