Gogglebox star says the show was a ‘pantomime’ behind-the-scenes as she spills secrets – from salary to why they watch 15-minute clips three times over
A former Gogglebox star has spilled behind-the-scenes secrets about the hit Channel 4 show.
Paige Deville, 26, and her mum Sally became armchair TV critics in 2019, but left in September 2021.
At the time of her exit, the Birmingham recruitment business owner announced her departure with a scathing Tweet where she slammed the show’s producers for giving her ‘zero aftercare’.
Now, Paige has given an insight into how the show is filmed, describing it as a ‘pantomime’.
The TV star says families settle down to watch 15-minute clips from five different shows – but have to watch them three times over so producers can film the perfect reaction.
Inside scoop: Former Gogglebox star Paige Deville has spilled behind-the-scenes secrets about the hit Channel 4 show
Stars: Paige Deville, 26, and her mum Sally became armchair TV critics in 2019, but left in September 2021
Filming can take seven hours, with bosses hyping up juicy snippets before they are shown and step in to explain the synopsis of programmes if the cast haven’t seen them.
Of how it works before the cameras roll, Paige says in an interview with The Sun: ‘They wouldn’t tell you, “Say this word for word,” but they prep you to say things and warn you about comments that won’t make it into the show,
‘Sometimes they give you a “three, two, one” countdown which gears you up and gets you ready to react. It’s a bit of a pantomime behind the scenes, you have to understand that you’re a character in a show and you can’t be your 100 per cent authentic self, otherwise everyone would be on their phones for half of the show.
‘They film it three times in case they miss a reaction and to have different responses, at times it can be a bit like, “Right, I’m watching this again”, but it’s a job at the end of the day.’
Paige says contracts usually start a £100 a day, but the most popular stars of the show can command higher salaries.
She adds families don’t meet up with each other because it may cause tensions around pay.
While producers don’t do anything to the set up of the living room, snacks seen on screen are rarely eaten due to continuity reasons, while cast members have to sit in similar positions to help bosses when it comes to editing.
MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
Paige said being trolled mercilessly online for not knowing who Abba is contributed to her decision to leave the show.
After the family left the show, Paige and her mum’s relationship became fractured and the pair are still not on speaking terms.
Money: Paige says contracts usually start a £100 a day, but the most popular stars of the show can command higher salaries
‘I have made the decision to walk away ‘: The recruitment business owner announced her departure with a scathing Tweet where she slammed the show’s producers
Since leaving the show, which she describes as an ‘amazing experience’, Paige says she has been approached by The Apprentice and dating programmes but has decided to put her TV career aside for now.
Paige was on the show with her mother Sally for three series, but announced her departure in a explosive Tweet back in 2021.
‘I have made the decision to walk away from Gogglebox It’s been an experience but one I cannot continue with due to long hours of filming, restrictiveness, control of our actions and opinions & zero aftercare support,’ Paige fumed online.
‘But hey who cares about ex cast, they’re NTA winners,’ seethed the TV personality as she bid her final farewell to the show hours before its return to Channel 4.
A Gogglebox representative told MailOnline at the time: ‘The welfare of contributors – past and present – is of paramount importance and robust protocols are in place to support contributors before, during and after taking part in the series.’
Fall out: Paige and her mum’s relationship became fractured since the show ended and the pair are still not on speaking terms
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