Scarlett Moffatt’s mum Betty ‘stole £50k to fund gambling addiction’

The former Gogglebox star was left 'betrayed and confused' when her mum came clean

Scarlett Moffatt and her mum Betty

by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

Scarlett Moffatt’s mum Betty reportedly stole £50,000 from her daughter after becoming addicted to online gambling in lockdown.

According to reports, 50-year-old Betty – who now works for Scarlett after they rose to fame on Gogglebox – fell deep into debt after blowing money on online casinos and took money from her millionaire daughter’s accounts in the hope of winning big and paying it back.

But the mum-of-two was forced to come clean after failing to win back the money, leaving Scarlett “betrayed and confused”.

Scarlett and Betty Moffatt
©Getty

A source revealed, “Betty started out having the odd flutter here or there as a bit of fun to break up lockdown boredom. But before she knew it, and as these things so often do, matters spiralled out of control.

“In sheer desperation, she took money from Scarlett’s account. But she obviously always thought she would win it back, and be able to repay her.

“Of course, she never did win the money and the next thing she knew, Scarlett realised her account was missing tens of thousands, and was horrified.”

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Gallery

AXED Gogglebox stars: then and now - slider

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: Instagram

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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The Tappers were the super loud family of four from North London, but had their spot on Gogglebox rescinded after Amy's stint on Celebs Go Dating, due to the producers "no celebs" rule.

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CREDIT: Getty

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: Twitter

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: Twitter

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: Twitter

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: BBC

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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).

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CREDIT: Twitter

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: Twitter

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.

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: ITV

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."

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CREDIT: Channel 4

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.

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CREDIT: Instagram

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."

Despite her initial shock, Scarlett is said to have rallied around her mum after realising the extent of her problem and has paid for Betty’s rehab and counselling.

“The whole family has had to give Betty the emotional and physical support she needs,” the source continued to The Sun.

“Scarlett has done lots of research into the perils of online gambling and hopes that by this story coming out she and Betty can help others in a similar position.”

They added that Betty is still receiving counselling and is “determined to come out the other side”.

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Scarlett first rose to fame alongside her parents Betty and Mark after joining the cast of Gogglebox in 2014, but quit the show two years later to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Last year, Scarlett claimed Gogglebox was edited to make her look “thick as s--t” on her podcast Scarlett Wants to Believe and told boyfriend Scott Dobinson, “I was a professional couch potato, you're making it sound easy. It was actually very difficult. Don't take the mick. Do you know what was difficult?

"For example, you know Downton Abbey, we used to have to watch Downton Abbey, but ten minutes of it... I'd never watched Downton Abbey, like a full episode, and they show us ten minutes of like a man bleeding from the mouth and then I'm like, 'What's going on? What's happening? Who's this?'

“And they only show that and it looks like I'm thick as s--t, but really it's because I genuinely don't have a clue what's going on.”

GamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK. It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling.

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