Gogglebox start date is REVEALED as the Channel 4 show returns with series 23 following a two-month break

The launch date for the new series of Gogglebox will return on Friday February 16 as the nation’s armchair critics return to share their TV verdicts.

The show’s stars will return to their sofas alongside their family and friends to share their opinions on the past week’s biggest and most popular programs.

The last series of the show wrapped at the end of last year and they have been on a break for a couple of months before the show resumes.

It was revealed at the end of the 22nd series that fan favorite Stephen Lustig-Webb would be leaving the show to pursue other opportunities.

However after signing up for Dancing On Ice, Stephen was sadly forced to withdraw after suffering an injury during training.

The show’s stars will return to their sofas alongside their family and friends to share their opinions on the past week’s biggest and most popular programs (pictured Giles and Mary)

The last series featured just one new family, Elaine and Seb, and it is yet to be announced if there will be any more changes ahead of series 23.

Gogglebox films the reactions of several families or groups of friends around the United Kingdom to television from the previous week.

The show has won the BAFTA TV Award for ‘Reality & Constructed Factual Programme’ in 2014 and 2022.

It also has spawned several international versions, a spin-off featuring children, Gogglesprogs, and one of young adults watching online content, Vogglebox.

The news comes following the sad announcement that beloved Gogglebox star Pat Webb had died aged 75 following a ‘long illness’.

Pat, who featured on the show from series 10 to 12 alongside her son Stephen, passed away this weekend, aged 75.

Stephen, who appeared on the show for 10 years before leaving in 2023, took to Instagram on Monday and shared a sweet photo of himself with his mother.

He wrote: ‘Mummy Pat, you were one in a million, took everyone at face value, would share your last fiver with a stranger, the salt of the earth and the absolute center of our world! Rest in peace mum.’

The news was also announced on the Gogglebox’s social media page.

The news comes following the sad announcement that beloved Gogglebox star Pat Webb had died aged 75 following a ‘long illness’

Stephen shared this sweet post alongside the photo as fans of the show sent their condolences

The official Gogglebox account shared this post on Twitter shortly after

A statement read: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox star Mummy Pat Webb passed away this weekend at the age of 75 after a long illness.

‘Pat was a much loved cast member on the show from series 10 -12 alongside her son Stephen.

‘Mummy Pat will be remembered and missed by her children Stephen, Denise, Sharon, Beverley and the extended family.

‘Our thoughts are with the family who have requested privacy at this sad time.’

Fans of Pat took to the comments of the post to share their condolences after the sad news was announced on social media.

They said: ‘Aw I loved your mum on Gogglebox, you two were brilliant together. So sorry to hear this sad news.’

‘Omg I’m so sorry. She was such a character on Gogglebox.’

‘Oh Stephen I’m so sorry! Your mum was so funny when you were both on Gogglebox. Sending you, Daniel and your family so much love.’

Fans loved to tune in and watch Stephen’s lovely relationship with his mother on the show in 2018 after his ex-partner Chris Steed left the program

Pat joined Gogglebox after Stephen’s ex-partner Chris Steed left the program in 2018.

From 2019 until 2023, Stephen appeared alongside his husband Daniel.

Stephen was one of the series’ longest-running stars having joined when it first started in 2013.

The sad news comes after Stephen announced he and Daniel were leaving the show last year.

Stephen confirmed that he wouldn’t be returning to Gogglebox after leaving to join Dancing On Ice.

He said at the time: ‘It’s 10 years and it’s time to move on and see what else is out there.

‘We filmed our final scenes last series and it’s already been shown already. There have been a few opportunities in the pipeline but I’m not going to say too much just yet.

‘If I was approached, I would like to do Celeb Bear Grylls – I think I could cope really well.’

From 2019 until 2023, Stephen appeared alongside his husband Daniel (right)

Stephen was one of the series’ longest-running stars having joined when it first started in 2013 but left last year to take part in Dancing On Ice (LR: Stephen with fellow DOI stars Ricky Norwood and Amber Davies)

‘But the worst part of the experience would be eating stuff – something like rats would be my nightmare.’

However in a shock turn of events, Stephen was forced to pull out after breaking his left ankle during a training session.

In October last year he was rushed to the Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth, where medics told him he had broken his left ankle and would be on crutches for at least the next three months.

The TV personality underwent an operation to put metal plates into his ankle for additional support.

Sources close to Stephen said he had been ‘thoroughly enjoying the new challenge’ and getting to know judges Torvill and Dean as well as the other celebrity contestants and was ‘gutted’ to be losing his place in the competition before the show had even started.

They said at the time: ‘Stephen is devastated… he is absolutely gutted.

However in a shock turn of events, Stephen was forced to pull out after breaking his left ankle during a training session

‘He was loving training but while turning on his skates he snapped his ankle and was rushed to hospital.

‘After two days and an operation to put metal plates into his left ankle, medics informed him that there wasn’t a chance he could return to training, so he had no other option but to pull out of the competition.’

A spokesperson for Dancing On Ice said: ‘Stephen Lustig-Webb has had to withdraw from the show due to an injury he sustained to his ankle during training.

‘He is still very much a part of the Dancing On Ice family, we will be helping to support Stephen and we wish him well with his recovery.’