06 June 2023 , 18:06
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Royle Family favourites Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston are to be reunited on a sofa for the new Celebrity Gogglebox.
It is more than a decade since their much-loved characters Jim and Barbara last settled down in front of a telly for the BBC comedy.
They will now be among celebs who judge TV shows on Channel 4 ’s Gogglebox.
The Royle Family ran from 1998 to 2000 before returning for specials. Narrator Caroline Aherne played Jim and Barbara’s daughter Denise before losing her cancer fight in 2016, aged 52.
Gogglebox is voiced by Craig Cash, who co-wrote The Royle Family with Caroline and played Denise’s hubby Dave.
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Caroline and Craig as Denise and Dave (BBC/Jellylegs)Yesterday Ricky, 83, said: “When it first aired Gogglebox was called ‘the real Royle Family’ so this is a full circle moment, Sue and I together again, in front of the box!”
But will he mutter Jim’s catchphrase “My arse!”?
Other new faces appearing on the fifth series of Celebrity Gogglebox include Davina McCall with her celebrity hairstylist boyfriend Michael Douglas.
She will be joined by fellow first-timers comedian Katherine Ryan and her husband Bobby plus BBC naturalist Chris Packham with his conservationist step-daughter Megan.
The newcomers join the series regulars who include Zoe Ball, her dad Johnny and her son Woody Cook, Rylan Clark and his mum Linda, Denise Van Outen and pal Duncan James, Mo Gilligan with mate Babatunde Aléshé, Shaun Ryder and his Happy Mondays bandmate Bez, Martin Kemp with son Roman, Nick Grimshaw and niece Liv plus Judi Love and her friend Charlene White.
Other famous faces making a return appearance include Rob Beckett and his comedy pal Tom Allen, Jon Richardson with his wife Lucy Beaumont, Fearne Cotton and her chum Gok Wan, Clare Balding with her wife Alice Arnold, Paul Sinha and his husband Olly, Melanie C and her brother Paul and Miquita Oliver with her mum Andi.
Gyles Brandreth will also be returning, this time with pal Joanna Lumley rather than Sheila Hancock.
* Celebrity Gogglebox, C4, Friday, June 16, 10pm.