Gogglebox's George Gilbey's mum reveals plans for heartbreaking tribute after his shock death

Gogglebox's George Gilbey's heartbroken mum Linda McGarry opens up on her son's death, what her plans are for his ashes and her relationship with his eight year old daughter

Gogglebox 's George Gilbey tragically passed away in March this year after falling for a great height while working in Essex. And in a new interview with the Mirror, his grief-stricken mum and fellow TV star Linda McGarry, shares plans for a touching tribute. Linda, who also lost her husband Pete McGarry in 2021, reveals she's going to scatter George's ashes in the new year.

Linda said: “We’re going to put his ashes on the beach, with my Pete [who died in 2021 and was George’s stepfather] and with his dad.” George's death came as a shock for Linda and his family, when he suddenly died on 27th March at the age of 40. Describing what he was like as a person, Linda told us: "He used to phone me 12 times a day – he was a real mummy’s boy. He was so kind.”

Linda has been through so much as she navigates life without her lovely boy - including a "full-blown stroke" three months ago. “I’m so lucky that my friends were here and they got me to the hospital," she said. "I’d just had a shower and was sitting on the settee with my phone next to me and my friend rang me and I couldn’t talk.”

Linda was rushed to A&E after her friend called an ambulance. “I had tubes down my throat – it was horrible,” she recalled. “On the tests, they couldn’t find where it had come from, but I think it’s the shock of George. There’s no bigger stress than what I went through.”

Thankfully, Linda, who also suffers with Parkinson’s disease, is OK now and managing her health with tablets. “I can’t change beds or do gardening – I have to do a little job and then sit down – but I’m mad on karaoke!” she said. “It’s very good for Parkinson’s and keeps your mind active and is very good for the vocal cords.”

To keep her spirits up, Linda has been spending some precious time with George's eight daughter, Amelie and they enjoyed a recent holiday to Lanzarote. Linda also has a close relationship with Amelie's mum and George's ex, Gemma Conway.

“George still loved Gemma until the day he died,” Linda said. “I don’t think George could have met anybody else, because he always talked about Gemma being so lovely. If Amelie ever played her mum up, he’d say to her, ‘You’ve got the best mum in the world, so you do as you’re told.’ She comes now at least once a month for the weekend.”