The heartbroken mother of Gogglebox star George Gilbey has told how her son was ‘trying to rebuild his life’ when he tragically fell through the roof of a warehouse last week.
Linda McGarry, 74, said George was her “best friend” and “did more in his 40s than most people do in their 90s.”
And his former partner, Gemma Conway, 44, mother of their daughter Amelie, seven, speaking for the first time after his death, described him as ‘a devoted father’.
In a moving interview with the Thurrock Gazette, Linda paid tribute to her son – who once starred with her on Channel 4’s Gogglebox – as a ‘devoted father’ with ‘a huge personality’.
George, 40, of Point Clear, St Osyth, died last Wednesday after falling from a height of more than 80 feet while at work in Shoebury while on the roof of a building.
The heartbroken mother of Gogglebox star George Gilbey has told how her son was ‘trying to rebuild his life’ when he tragically fell through the roof of a warehouse last week.
Gilbey became a household name on Gogglebox alongside mother Linda and stepdad Pete
He was best known for appearing on Channel 4’s Gogglebox alongside mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete, who died in 2021 aged 71 after bowel cancer.
George, an electrician and certified roofer, had only been back to work for three days and was trying to “rebuild his life,” his mother said.
Linda said: ‘I’m devastated – he was like my best friend.
‘He had the best heart in the world – he was generous, funny and kind, with great charm and a huge personality.
‘He has done more in his forty years than people in their nineties; he even had dinner with the Prince of Dubai.
‘He was crazy, but after he left showbiz he couldn’t get his life back on track.
‘He just couldn’t cope with Pete’s death.
‘I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and he thought it was worse than me. He was a mama’s boy.
‘He became famous overnight, but he didn’t really want that; he was just normal.
‘But it allowed him to do charity work. Every time someone contacted him about charity work, he made it a priority.”
In recent years, Gilbey had worked hard to get his life back on track, including working for supermarket Morrisons during the COVID-19 pandemic
This was the last photo George Gilbey posted of himself on social media. He said he had just bought a gym membership
She added that George was destined for showbiz after ‘growing up’ in pubs – Linda and Pete previously ran The Woolpack in Witham and King’s Head, Braintree.
He attended Alec Hunter High School in Braintree before becoming a roofer.
George got his big break on Gogglebox after a friend said they were auditioning for a new TV show that was looking for ‘personalities’.
“He did an interview, but his friends were too shy,” Linda said. ‘So they called me in.
‘My husband was shy, but he did it anyway. It just took off from there.
‘When they offered him Big Brother we had to get rid of it.
“He was a stay-at-home dad after Amelie was born. He was such a good father.’
George appeared on the 14th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2014 and reached the final of the competition. He then met former partner Gemma Conway, with whom he has Amelie Iris, seven.
“He was a very devoted father,” said Gemma, who remained close friends with George.
‘Amelie was his absolute world – he lived for that little girl and his mother.
‘George was a real contradiction – he was so funny and so intelligent. Many people don’t know how intelligent George was.
‘He was smart, which allowed him to be quick-witted and he was loud and outgoing, but at the same time very sensitive. He helped others, but he struggled himself.”
Linda thanked those who sent their condolences.
George Gilbey has been pictured on Celebrity Big Brother. He reached the final in the fourteenth series
Tributes have poured in for the reality star, who also starred in Celebrity Big Brother, with Channel 4 saying in a statement on Tuesday that he was ‘part of the family’
She said: ‘People are devastated – he had friends everywhere – they called him ‘Squeaky George’.
George is survived by mother Linda, daughter Amelie, as well as foster brothers Jamie, Mickey, Lee, Mo, Chris, Matt, Bardley and sisters Jackie and Beth.
George died on March 27 while working at the EGL Homecare warehouse, Campfield Road, Shoebury.
Essex Police said it has launched a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive.
A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence and released under investigation.
A fundraising campaign has been launched in aid of George’s family. To donate, go to
gofundme.com/in-memory-of-george-gilbey