Gogglebox star Pete McGarry died of bowel cancer just days after being told by doctors that he had only six months to live.
He passed away at home in Essex with his wife Linda and his family by his side at the age of 71.
His heartbroken wife Linda confirmed that Pete had shed six stone in a bid to become healthier, but was diagnosed with bowel cancer earlier this year.
He had an operation to remove the tumour, but was told he only had six months to live. He died just days later.
Linda paid tribute to her husband to the Sun, saying: “Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years.
(Image: PA)
“I said to him ‘we’ve not only been 25 years, it’s been day and night with each other. He was my life.”
She added: “When they told Pete he only had six months I said to him ‘we have done things that nobody else would ever do in a lifetime,” saying they’d been to “marvellous” places, and he was proud of George when he went into Celebrity Big Brother.
She also revealed how devastated their son George Gilbey was by Peter’s passing, saying he was “really cut up”, and they “really loved each other”.
The pair rose to fame after appearing on Gogglebox with their son George, and quickly won over fans with their on-screen charm.
(Image: Getty Images)
Before their stint on the show, Pete and Linda had adopted more than 100 kids together, with many of them reaching out to contact Linda to share their condolences.
The Channel 4 star said that her phone hadn’t stopped ringing from the kids, which was all the more special as she and Pete hadn’t shared children together.
Linda has two adult sons while Pete had two daughters with first wife Sue, who sadly passed away.
Tributes have been pouring in for the Gogglebox star, with Channel 4 posting the sad news on the official Gogglebox social media account.
(Image: Getty Images)
They posted: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox star Pete McGarry passed away at the age of 71 this weekend with his family by his side after a short illness.
“Pete, his wife Linda and her son George originally joined Gogglebox at the start of the second series in 2013.
“The Clacton couple returned to the show for the seventh series in 2016 and have been series regulars and firm favourites ever since.
“”Pete will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family, cast and crew.
“Our thoughts are with Linda, their children and grandchildren.
“Since 2000, Pete and Linda have fostered over a hundred children and he is a beloved father, husband and grandfather.
“The family have asked for privacy at this sad time.
“Pete’s death was not related to COVID-19.”
Gogglebox will return to Channel 4 in September at 9pm.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
