Leon hailed as best ever Goggleboxer as heartwarming moment leaves people in tears
Sitting down in front of the telly with a cuppa to watch a bunch of other people sitting down in front of their tellies with a cuppa, it’s total Britishness.
Obviously I’m on about Gogglebox. It’s undoubtedly one of the most popular Channel 4 shows – with over 20 series of it, we clearly love it.
And it’s the cast members who make it. The ordinary families and households who serve up hilarious, heartwarming and honest reactions to the latest TV.
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Earlier this week, one of the show’s OGs, Stephen Webb announced he will be leaving Gogglebox after 10 years.
So now fans are reminiscing on their favourite moments and people from the last decade.
When you think of the greatest Goggleboxers, you can’t forget the one and only ultimate pair, Leon and June Bernicoff from Liverpool.
Sadly, both have now passed away and their memory certainly lives on through the show’s legacy.
Sharing a classic clip of the pair, a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “The greatest will always be Leon. For his excellent politics and one of the most romantic moments of telly ever.”
Back in 2015, Leon and June were watching a moment from Gladiator, where the lead character is reunited with his wife and son in heaven.
Both are tearing up as the legend says to his own wife: “I like to think that’s true you know.”
And June responds: “Well you do don’t you, especially when you get to our age.”
Viewers were typically used to seeing Leon cracking out funny responses to shows but here he gets rather sweet as he admits he ‘believes it’.
After a moment of quiet, he looks over to his wife, welling up, and adds: “I’d join you, you see.
“Always, June.”
I’m not crying, you are.
Anyway, we’re not alone as other users wrote: “Still makes me emotional.”
Others added: “Thanks mate. Absolute mess here now.”
Another also wrote: “Watching this has set the tears off! Such a beautiful soul, with the wisest of outlooks.”
Many called him a ‘legend’ as one put: “What a man he was!”
Leon sadly died in 2017 at the age of 83 and June died in 2020, aged 82.
Starting off on his sofa as an original cast member like the couple, Webb and partner Daniel Lustig-Webb have decided to hang up their TV remote.
In a statement to Instagram, he wrote: “After careful consideration, Daniel and I have decided we will not be returning for the new series of Gogglebox. We feel the time is right to move on and explore other opportunities."
Topics: TV and Film, Gogglebox, Channel 4
Jess Battison