Mary Cook death latest: Gogglebox favourite, 92, dies in hospital with family by her bedside as stars pay tribute
GOGGLEBOX's Mary Cook has died peacefully aged 92, surrounded by her family at her bedside.
The star and TV addict regularly appeared on the popular Channel 4 show alongside best pal Marina Wingrove - and were both loved for their cheeky comments.
Mary, who lived in a retirement home in Bristol, passed away in hospital at the weekend with her family by her side,and Studio Lambert confirmed today.
A statement said: "We are extremely saddened to share that Gogglebox star Mary Cook passed away in hospital this weekend at the age of 92 with her family by her side.
"Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to many, Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, had been married and widowed twice."
Read our Mary Cook live blog below for the latest news and updates..
GOGGLEBOX STATEMENT
WHY WERE THEY NOT ON THE SERIES DURING LOCKDOWN?
The were forced to stop filming as show bosses did their best to protect them amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The duo received their coronavirus vaccines together in January after months of shielding in their homes in St Monica Trust retirement village in Westbury-on-Trym.
Last year Gogglebox creator Tania Alexander explained producers had to make the difficult decision to stop filming with the pair so they weren't risk.
"Unfortunately, it was not possible to film with the full cast," she told .
"For example, we took the decision to tell Mary and Marina, who are in their 90s and live in a care home, that we didn’t want them put at any risk so we should stop filming with them altogether."
MARY HAD SOME GREAT MOMENTS ON THE SHOW
The Bristolian pensioner appeared on the Channel 4 show with her best friend Marina and showed off her vocal skills in one clip on Friday's show.
After singing Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon, Marina told her friend she should go on Britain's Got Talent.
But Mary replied: "Oh I couldn’t be bothered. I should have done that when I was about 10 years old. I used to w**k ‘em out then."
As Marina burst out laughing and asked "Pardon?", Mary said: "No, I never used to w**k ‘em out then, I meant sing them out, you know."
Marina replied: "I know what you meant Mary..."
CHANNEL 4 AND STUDIO LAMBERT STATEMENT
Mary passed away in hospital at the weekend with her family by her side, Channel 4 and Studio Lambert confirmed today.
A statement said: “We are extremely saddened to share that Gogglebox star Mary Cook passed away in hospital this weekend at the age of 92 with her family by her side.
“Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to many, Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, had been married and widowed twice.”
WHEN DID MARY AND GOGGLEBOX PARTNER MEET
Mary and Marina met at their retirement village more than ten years ago and became best friends.
The statement said they became “instant fan favourites” because of their “brilliantly witty and often cheeky moments”.
WHAT WAS HER CAUSE OF DEATH?
Channel 4 confirmed on August 23, 2021 that Mary passed away in hospital with her family by her side, although an exact cause for her passing is yet to be revealed.
A statement said: "We are extremely saddened to share that Gogglebox star Mary Cook passed away in hospital this weekend at the age of 92 with her family by her side.
"Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to many, Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, had been married and widowed twice."
Mary and Marina met at their retirement village more than ten years ago and became best friends.
WAS MARY COOK MARRIED?
At the time of her death Mary was not married.
However we do know she had been wed and widowed twice.
She also was a grandmother and a great-grandmother.
WHY WERE THEY NOT ON THE SERIES DURING LOCKDOWN?
The were forced to stop filming as show bosses did their best to protect them amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The duo received their coronavirus vaccines together in January after months of shielding in their homes in St Monica Trust retirement village in Westbury-on-Trym.
Last year Gogglebox creator Tania Alexander explained producers had to make the difficult decision to stop filming with the pair so they weren’t risk.
“Unfortunately, it was not possible to film with the full cast,” she told .
“For example, we took the decision to tell Mary and Marina, who are in their 90s and live in a care home, that we didn’t want them put at any risk so we should stop filming with them altogether.”
HOW DID MARY LAND HER ROLE ON GOGGLEBOX?
The friends landed a spot on the show after being discovered by producers while shopping in Asda.
Marina said previously: “I went across to catch the bus down to Asda and this young girl comes up to me and says ‘do you ever watch Gogglebox?’
“I said, ‘well I have done’ and she said ‘do you want to be on it?’ I thought, ‘I’m game for a laugh, like’.
“Then she said ‘have you got a friend?’ And like that, Mary came round the corner on her scooter.”
WHY WERE THEY NOT ON THE SERIES DURING LOCKDOWN?
The were forced to stop filming as show bosses did their best to protect them amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The duo received their coronavirus vaccines together in January after months of shielding in their homes in St Monica Trust retirement village in Westbury-on-Trym.
Last year Gogglebox creator Tania Alexander explained producers had to make the difficult decision to stop filming with the pair so they weren’t risk.
“Unfortunately, it was not possible to film with the full cast,” she told .
“For example, we took the decision to tell Mary and Marina, who are in their 90s and live in a care home, that we didn’t want them put at any risk so we should stop filming with them altogether.”
MARY HAD SOME GREAT MOMENTS ON THE SHOW
The Bristolian pensioner appeared on the Channel 4 show with her best friend Marina and showed off her vocal skills in one clip on Friday’s show.
After singing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, Marina told her friend she should go on Britain’s Got Talent.
But Mary replied: “Oh I couldn’t be bothered. I should have done that when I was about 10 years old. I used to w**k ‘em out then.”
As Marina burst out laughing and asked “Pardon?”, Mary said: “No, I never used to w**k ‘em out then, I meant sing them out, you know.”
Marina replied: “I know what you meant Mary…”
PANDEMIC MEANT THE COUPLE MISSED OUT ON SERIES 15
Mary and Marina were left out of series 15 of the show last year after lockdown lifted as staff didn’t want to put their health at risk.
They appeared in the autumn series but were forced to miss out on the latest show earlier this year after the UK was plunged into lockdown again.
WHO WAS GOGGLEBOX’S MARY COOK?
Mary was born in 1929 and shot to fame when she joined Gogglebox along with her best friend Marina Wingrove.
The pair, who both lived in a retirement village in Bristol, were loved by viewers thanks to their cheeky comments and occasional tipple.
The friends landed a spot on the show after being discovered by producers while shopping in Asda.
Marina said previously: “I went across to catch the bus down to Asda and this young girl comes up to me and says ‘do you ever watch Gogglebox? and I said, ‘well I have done’ and she said ‘do you want to be on it?’ I thought, ‘I’m game for a laugh, like’.”
GOGGLE BOX TRAGEDY
Mary's death comes just weeks after Gogglebox co-star Pete McGarry died from bowel cancer at home in Essex.
TRIBUTES HAVE FLOODED IN
Tributes have already begun flooding in from fellow Gogglebox stars.
Sophie Sandiford posted a picture of Mary on her Instagram story with the caption: “Rest in peace Mary”.
WHEN DID MARY AND GOGGLEBOX PARTNER MEET
Mary and Marina met at their retirement village more than ten years ago and became best friends.
The statement said they became “instant fan favourites” because of their “brilliantly witty and often cheeky moments”.
WAS MARY COOK MARRIED?
At the time of her death Mary was not married.
However we do know she had been wed and widowed twice.
She also was a grandmother and a great-grandmother.
MARY HAD SOME GREAT MOMENTS ON THE SHOW
The Bristolian pensioner appeared on the Channel 4 show with her best friend Marina and showed off her vocal skills in one clip on Friday’s show.
After singing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, Marina told her friend she should go on Britain’s Got Talent.
But Mary replied: “Oh I couldn’t be bothered. I should have done that when I was about 10 years old. I used to w**k ‘em out then.”
As Marina burst out laughing and asked “Pardon?”, Mary said: “No, I never used to w**k ‘em out then, I meant sing them out, you know.”
Marina replied: “I know what you meant Mary…”
SEAN LOCK ONCE TOOK A JOB AS A GOAT HERDER ON A FRENCH FARM
Sean Lock once spent six weeks working at a French farm as a goat herder, before moving on to a kibbutz in Israel.
Fans remembered the star’s eclectic working life in their tributes, with one saying on Twitter: “Here’s to #SeanLock, a great comedian and a fantastic goat herder!”
He would not start his career as a comedian until 1993 when he joined the series Newman and Baddiel in Pieces.
WHO WAS GOGGLEBOX’S MARY COOK?
Mary was born in 1929 and shot to fame when she joined Gogglebox along with her best friend Marina Wingrove.
The pair, who both lived in a retirement village in Bristol, were loved by viewers thanks to their cheeky comments and occasional tipple.
The friends landed a spot on the show after being discovered by producers while shopping in Asda.
Marina said previously: “I went across to catch the bus down to Asda and this young girl comes up to me and says ‘do you ever watch Gogglebox? and I said, ‘well I have done’ and she said ‘do you want to be on it?’ I thought, ‘I’m game for a laugh, like’.”
WHAT WAS HER CAUSE OF DEATH?
Channel 4 confirmed on August 23, 2021 that Mary passed away in hospital with her family by her side, although an exact cause for her passing is yet to be revealed.
A statement said: “We are extremely saddened to share that Gogglebox star Mary Cook passed away in hospital this weekend at the age of 92 with her family by her side.
“Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to many, Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, had been married and widowed twice.”
Mary and Marina met at their retirement village more than ten years ago and became best friends.
CHANNEL 4 AND STUDIO LAMBERT STATEMENT
Mary passed away in hospital at the weekend with her family by her side, Channel 4 and Studio Lambert confirmed today.
A statement said: “We are extremely saddened to share that Gogglebox star Mary Cook passed away in hospital this weekend at the age of 92 with her family by her side.
“Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to many, Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, had been married and widowed twice.”
GOGGLEBOX CO-STARS LEE AND JENNY PAY TRIBUTE
Gogglebox stars Lee and Jenny have paid tribute to Mary saying she will be “solely missed”.
The pair, who became friends 21 years ago in East Yorkshire, called the 92-year-old “such a warmful and colourful character” and a “lovely lady”.
GOGGLEBOX STATEMENT