It’s only been a month since Tom Malone Jr quit Gogglebox after over six years on the show, but he’s already announced his next venture – and it’s definitely not what we were expecting.
Tom has been unveiled as the new Head of Chair Testing for shelving and storage company BiGDUG and actually, his new role does kinda make sense when you think about it. After all, he has spent most of career on the sofa.
As Head of Chair Testing, Tom will be trying out a number of seats and rating them based on comfort on social media.
BiGDUG announced the news on Instagram with a video of the TV star hard at work. In the video, he says, “Want to know what it's like to be a grown man paid to test chairs? Check this out.
“So, after all my years on Gogglebox getting really good at sitting on my arse, BiGDUG offered me a new job sitting on my arse. It's a hard life being a chair tester but you know we make it work."
CHECK OUT axed Gogglebox cast - where are they now?
AXED Gogglebox stars: then and now - slider
The Moffatts then
Arguably the shows biggest export, Scarlett Moffatt has gone on to do some incredible things since leaving the show in 2016, winning I'm a Celeb and landing presenting roles on Extra Camp and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
The Moffatts now
The rest of the family are still thick as thieves, as Scarlett's recent tribute to her dad Mark proves. After Scarlett gained celeb status, the whole family were axed, leaving Scarlett gutted – but they're certainly enjoying her celeb status, with "secret" little sister Ava making pals with Joe Swash's son Harry, and glitzy parties galore.
The Tappers then
The Tappers were the super loud family of four from North London, but had their spot on Gogglebox rescinded after Amy's stint on Celebs Go Dating, due to the producers "no celebs" rule.
The Tappers now
But despite returning to their day jobs the family are still as tight knit as ever, with Nikki and Jonathon recently celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary.Jonathon – a chauffer - has recently shed 3 and half stone and is almost unrecognisable from his Gogglebox days and son Josh is a budding politician.
Sandi and Sandra then
Sandi first crashed onto our screens alongside best friend Sandra, with their incredible nails and plentiful takeaways, and had to deny claims they'd fallen out after Sandra seemingly made a dig at Sandi's 'celebrity' lifestyle after leaving the show.
Sandi now
She's since gone on to do a number of reality TV projects including CBB in 2017 and Famous and Fighting Crime last year, and is an aspiring soul singer.She's also thecousin of Naomi Campbell.
Sandra and Chanchez then
Sandra decided to stay on the show for a time after Sandi left, and enlisted her daughter Chanchez to keep her company on the sofa.
Sandra now
Despite her fame and status as one of the most popular Goggleboxers ever, Sandra admitted to us last year that she was "broke" and moving into an over 55 home after being homeless for months. Last year she announced she would be getting married to her unnamed boyfriend, but from her social media still looks to be single.
George Gilbey then
Another 'boxer deemed 'too sleb' for the sofa, George Gibley's time on Gogglebox came to an end after he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, coming fourth, and snogging celebrity ladies Stephanie Pratt AND Edele Lynch.
George Gilbey now
After a brief return to the show, George's life has taken a distinctly less glamorous turn, and last year narrowly avoiding prison when he was charged with trying to strangle his ex-girlfriend while their daughter slept upstairs.
Steph and Dom then
Steph and Dom Parker are another Gogglebox family to have done very well for themselves since leaving the show in 2017. Their excellent comedic chemistry has landed them their own radio show on talkRadio, and they've hosted a number of telly shows, like 2014's Steph and Dom meet Nigel Farage.
Steph and Dom now
But there's a serious side to the Sandwich dwelling, B&B owning couple, too. Earlier this year they hosted an investigative documentary looking into medical marijuana, as parents to severely epileptic son Max, 18.
Mummy Pat then
Pat Webb is the mother of OG 'boxer Stephen Webb and temporarily stepped in to replaced his ex and friend Chris when he left in 2017 (more on that in a bit).
Mummy Pat now
We haven't seen much of Mummy Pat since she left the show, and viewers weren't happy to see her go, but she did rock a fascinator fabulously for Stephen's wedding to husband Daniel Lustig.
Christopher Ashby-Steed then
Christopher Ashby-Steed joined Stephen Webb on the first EVER episode of Gogglebox in 2013. At first they were in a romantic relationship – but after they broke up, decided to continue working together on the show.
Christopher Ashby-Steed now
However, things eventually turned pretty sour between the two, and earlier this year Chris gave an interview with The Mirror where he claimed Stephen had "bullied" him off the show."A year on, I've finally had the courage to stand up to a bully and start to tell the story of how @Stephenwebb71 forced of off @C4Gogglebox and how it's affected my mental health since," he tweeted, adding that he'd received no mental health aftercare, which is an "industry-wide failing".He's found his happy ever after, though, wit a new husband.
Leon and June then
Leon and June Bernicoff were the hilarious elderly couple who had us alternatively in stitches/tears from the first episode, up until Leon's tragic death in December 2017. Deciding not to continue on the show without her husband, June has largely stepped out of the limelight but occasionally gives interviews, and wrote a memoir about her 62 year marriage called Leon and June: Life, Love and Laughter – Our Story.
Leon and June now
June sadly passed away at the age of 82 in May 2020. Her death was announced in a statement by Channel 4, which read, "We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox's much-loved June Bernicoff passed away at the age of 82 on May 5 at home with her family by her side after a short illness."As the first couple to be cast for Gogglebox back in 2013, June and her husband Leon were a huge part of the programme's success. Their warmth, wit and contrasting personalities endeared them to the nation during the course of the first 10 series."
Silent Jay then
One of the most iconic Goggleboxers of all time, Silent Jay – AKA Jay Makin – gained legions of fans with his hilarious facial expressions. He was the boyfriend of Eve Woerdenweber, but left the show after they split.
Silent Jay now
After his departure in the show in 2015, Jay told The Sun, "I get recognised as that guy who never speaks — and most people get shocked by how much I talk. I am generally quite talkative."They just edit the bits where I talk out."
Tom announced he was leaving the Channel 4 show last month as he told fans, “So after 6 and a half years it’s finally time to put down the remote and say goodbye to Gogglebox.
“I’ve loved every minute and I’m eternally grateful to Channel 4 and Studio Lambert for allowing me to be a part of the show. But new opportunities are knocking on the door and it’s time to explore them."
Although Tom waved goodbye to the Gogglebox sofa, his parents Tom Sr and Julie will remain on the show with his younger brother Shaun.
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Following his departure from Gogglebox, Tom was forced to deny claims that he quit the show because of his girlfriend Bryony Briscoe.
Some fans had speculated that he quit the show because producers wouldn’t let Bryony star alongside him, leading him to take to TikTok and ask them to stop sending her nasty comments.
In response to a fan asking, “How come you left Gogglebox? The rumour is that you wanted your girlfriend on there and the producers said no”, Tom said, “It’s not that simple to just put someone on with us because of contracts and stuff.
“Bryony has actually never wanted to be on the show. She’s got her own career as a model, she’s a very good model, why would she leave that to come on the show? It’s all rubbish. She’s had a lot of abuse over it so please stop because it’s not fair on her.”