The couple had been married for over 50 years when they first rose to fame as the first confirmed cast members of pioneering reality show Gogglebox, which films regular people as they sit down to watch TV in their own homes.
Viewers were instantly smitten by the retired teachers’ relationship, with Leon constantly sneaking snacks behind his wife’s back, and the kind of bickering that only comes after decades together.
So when Leon passed away after a short battle with pneumonia and sepsis two years ago, the nation was heartbroken.
Now June, who chose not to continue filming on her own, has opened up about how difficult it has been to watch the TV without her husband by her side, after Leon spent the last years of his life enjoying fame by doing just that.
“I don’t watch much TV these days, if I’m honest,” she told The Mirror. “I find it difficult. I’ve been reading a lot more, or listening to the radio, but I just feel restless whenever I sit down to watch it.
“I find myself getting up to make a lot of cups of tea and I can’t settle.”
Check out all the facts you didn't know about Gogglebox:
1) The Gogglebox cast had to be persuaded to star on the show
Gogglebox creator Stephen Lambert has revealed that they DIDN'T have anyone audition to be on Gogglebox; in fact, they had to persuade the majority of their families to be on the show.
"Everybody on Gogglebox has been found and persuaded to be on the show and I think that's the key to why they are likeable and why the show works, because we get to know these people," he explained to The Radio Times.
Gogglebox's June Bernicoff reveals she hasn't watched TV since her husband Leon's death
2 of 20
20) You can’t apply to be on Gogglebox
That's right, there are no application forms or auditions - it's all been organised so that the show only has ordinary, no-nonsense people on their screens.
1) The Gogglebox cast had to be persuaded to star on the show
Gogglebox creator Stephen Lambert has revealed that they DIDN'T have anyone audition to be on Gogglebox; in fact, they had to persuade the majority of their families to be on the show.
"Everybody on Gogglebox has been found and persuaded to be on the show and I think that's the key to why they are likeable and why the show works, because we get to know these people," he explained to The Radio Times.
2) Only three families have starred in all 11 series
… and they are: Stephen Webb (who originally appeared alongside Chris Butland-Steed), the Siddiquies, and the Tapper family.
3) Gogglebox creators found Leon and June in a bridge club
Gogglebox creators Stephen Lambert and Tania Alexander went to a bridge club to do a "street casting" for the show, and that's where they found two opinionated retired teachers. Aka our beloved Leon (who passed away 2017) and June.
4) And they found Stephen and Chris at work
Yes, producers also popped into a hairdressers and asked if anyone would like to be on telly. Unsurprisingly, Chris, who worked at the salon, was up for it, and up until series 10 we were treated to his and Stephen's witty observations.
After series 10 finished in 2017, Chris revealed that he had quit the show to "pursue other opportunities".
5) Reverend Kate Bottley was found via a viral wedding video
Kate was officiating a wedding back in 2013 when she led a Flash mob in the aisles to the strains of Nineties hit "Everybody Dance Now".
The video went viral and it wasn't long before the Gogglebox creators were knocking on Kate's door.
Speaking about her decision to appear in the show, Kate told The Telegraph, "I thought it was an opportunity to show that vicars are just normal people."
6) Giles and Mary were APPROACHED by Gogglebox producers
"A friend of a friend recommended them and then I think I got producer Lucy Whelan to call to see if they were interested," Tania Alexander explained to The Radio Times.
"Lucy came off the phone and said Giles is quite keen, Mary's not a pushover – we've got a bit of a battle on our hands there."
The couple were eventually persuaded to join the cast after taking part in a fun 'taster' session.
7) The Siddiqui family were recommended to producers
Giles and Mary aren't the only contributors who came recommended; the Siddiqui family were also suggested to the show's creators - and they obviously impressed them, as they've starred in each and every single series of the show!
8) It takes just a few days to make each episode
Gogglebox creators start shooting on a Friday and film throughout the week, but they spend the first four days assessing and cutting material; in fact, about 99.9% of what is recorded is cut from the final product.
After working out which material they're going to use, the show's creators begin piecing the episode together just three days before the show airs, working through Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday, and throughout Wednesday night.
On Thursday afternoon, they finalise the episode and have Craig Cash do the voiceover - and boom, the episode is made.
9) Filming is planned around the contributors
The majority of filming is planned around the people you see in the show, as a lot of them have full-time jobs and families to look after.
They usually are expected to do at least eight hours of filming - split across two days.
10) The sofas are filmed from another room
It keeps things feeling more authentic to have the cameramen in another room during filming. That's why Gogglebox is filmed using two remote cameras known as "hot heads", with the TV crew controlling them from somewhere else in the house (such as the spare room or kitchen).
11) Gogglebox stars DO get paid to be on the show
Yes, Gogglebox stars ARE paid to appear on the show - nobody knows how much they get, as it's one of the show's best-kept secrets.
12) There’s a secret member of the Moffatt family (kind of)
That's right; the Moffatt family also have a younger daughter, Ava, who rarely appeared on the show because filming usually took place after her bedtime.
13) The Siddiqui family also have a few hidden members…
Sid has a wife and two daughters, but they didn't want to appear on the show. Instead we just have him and his two sons - but, every so often, one of his grandchildren will pop up for a special appearance.
14) Steph and Dom’s disabled son changed their lives
Speaking with Times Magazine, the pair explained that, when their eldest son, Max (now 15), was four months old, they noticed that Max was making "little jerky movements".
Steph recalled, "We took a video of him and showed it to the GP, who immediately referred us to the paediatric consultant at the local hospital who said, 'I think we have a problem and I need you to come in first thing Monday morning. Bring a bag.'"
It soon transpired that Max was suffering from autism and epilepsy, changing the family's lives forever.
The teenager now spends term time in a special residential school, but, in the holidays, he spends his time with his doting mum and dad, as well as his younger sister, Honor.
Steph said, "We drink socially to enjoy ourselves, but when the kids are at home, it is family time. They are the most important people to us in the world."
15) Scarlett Moffatt had a job alongside her role on Gogglebox
The no-nonsense Durham lass was a disability advisor for students and, as if that weren't impressive enough, she's also a trained ballroom dancer.
Since leaving Gogglebox, Scarlett has gone on to star in I'm A Celebrity and has presented on Streetmate and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
16) The Tapper family were originally considered for another TV show
Channel 4 had initially considered Nikki for another programme, Jewish Mum Of The Year.
"I'd just recovered from breast cancer and my mum nominated me," Nikki explained to The Sunday Post.
"But I ended up not going on it – actually Jonathan didn't want me to do it. The researcher, who came round and met the kids, must have kept my number and phoned out of the blue saying she was helping out with this small four-week programme."
However they almost didn't appear, as she explained, "I didn't understand how it would be done and I didn't think Jonathan would have any interest in being on TV."
17) The Malones originally turned Gogglebox producers down
The family were approached at a dance school called Studio 25 to appear on the Channel 4 programme, where Tom Jr teaches and Julie helps out on reception.
"Tom Senior said no," the mum explained to Manchester Evening News. "We explained about the rottweilers and the staffie but they still wanted us.
"They came over and had a chat, and took a video of us chatting. Three weeks later someone rang and said we like you, and Tom changed his mind."
We're so glad they changed their minds, because it's not just the human members of the Malone family we love; the family had FIVE dogs who often appear on the show, named Dave, Lucy, Frankie, Izzie and Joe.
In May 2018, the Malone family posted a heartbreaking tribute after their beloved dog Frank passed away.
18) The show isn’t scripted
A whistleblower came out in 2014 to claim that the show was a "fix", with producers passing jokes to the sofa stars and reshooting scenes to make them funnier.
They told The Star, "Sometimes we are told: 'Louis Walsh is going to say something shocking on X Factor so we want you to react to that.'
"If you can't think of anything, the producers come up with a joke. If you fluff it they film it again."
However the banter is REAL, a Channel 4 spokesman later revealed, saying, "The Gogglebox cast are filmed for two to three nights per week. We film them watching live television and some that has been recorded.
"The production team do not influence the comments. The reactions are genuine."
19) There's an American version of Gogglebox
Yes, the USA does have its own version of Gogglebox, and they're not the only other country to get in on the action. In fact, there have been a whopping FIFTEEN international versions of Gogglebox, the USA, Australia, Canada, China, Ukraine, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Israel, Germany, Finland, Norway, Belgium, and France.
20) You can’t apply to be on Gogglebox
That's right, there are no application forms or auditions - it's all been organised so that the show only has ordinary, no-nonsense people on their screens.
1) The Gogglebox cast had to be persuaded to star on the show
Gogglebox creator Stephen Lambert has revealed that they DIDN'T have anyone audition to be on Gogglebox; in fact, they had to persuade the majority of their families to be on the show.
"Everybody on Gogglebox has been found and persuaded to be on the show and I think that's the key to why they are likeable and why the show works, because we get to know these people," he explained to The Radio Times.
2) Only three families have starred in all 11 series
… and they are: Stephen Webb (who originally appeared alongside Chris Butland-Steed), the Siddiquies, and the Tapper family.
3) Gogglebox creators found Leon and June in a bridge club
Gogglebox creators Stephen Lambert and Tania Alexander went to a bridge club to do a "street casting" for the show, and that's where they found two opinionated retired teachers. Aka our beloved Leon (who passed away 2017) and June.
4) And they found Stephen and Chris at work
Yes, producers also popped into a hairdressers and asked if anyone would like to be on telly. Unsurprisingly, Chris, who worked at the salon, was up for it, and up until series 10 we were treated to his and Stephen's witty observations.
After series 10 finished in 2017, Chris revealed that he had quit the show to "pursue other opportunities".
5) Reverend Kate Bottley was found via a viral wedding video
Kate was officiating a wedding back in 2013 when she led a Flash mob in the aisles to the strains of Nineties hit "Everybody Dance Now".
The video went viral and it wasn't long before the Gogglebox creators were knocking on Kate's door.
Speaking about her decision to appear in the show, Kate told The Telegraph, "I thought it was an opportunity to show that vicars are just normal people."
6) Giles and Mary were APPROACHED by Gogglebox producers
"A friend of a friend recommended them and then I think I got producer Lucy Whelan to call to see if they were interested," Tania Alexander explained to The Radio Times.
"Lucy came off the phone and said Giles is quite keen, Mary's not a pushover – we've got a bit of a battle on our hands there."
The couple were eventually persuaded to join the cast after taking part in a fun 'taster' session.
7) The Siddiqui family were recommended to producers
Giles and Mary aren't the only contributors who came recommended; the Siddiqui family were also suggested to the show's creators - and they obviously impressed them, as they've starred in each and every single series of the show!
8) It takes just a few days to make each episode
Gogglebox creators start shooting on a Friday and film throughout the week, but they spend the first four days assessing and cutting material; in fact, about 99.9% of what is recorded is cut from the final product.
After working out which material they're going to use, the show's creators begin piecing the episode together just three days before the show airs, working through Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday, and throughout Wednesday night.
On Thursday afternoon, they finalise the episode and have Craig Cash do the voiceover - and boom, the episode is made.
9) Filming is planned around the contributors
The majority of filming is planned around the people you see in the show, as a lot of them have full-time jobs and families to look after.
They usually are expected to do at least eight hours of filming - split across two days.
10) The sofas are filmed from another room
It keeps things feeling more authentic to have the cameramen in another room during filming. That's why Gogglebox is filmed using two remote cameras known as "hot heads", with the TV crew controlling them from somewhere else in the house (such as the spare room or kitchen).
11) Gogglebox stars DO get paid to be on the show
Yes, Gogglebox stars ARE paid to appear on the show - nobody knows how much they get, as it's one of the show's best-kept secrets.
12) There’s a secret member of the Moffatt family (kind of)
That's right; the Moffatt family also have a younger daughter, Ava, who rarely appeared on the show because filming usually took place after her bedtime.
13) The Siddiqui family also have a few hidden members…
Sid has a wife and two daughters, but they didn't want to appear on the show. Instead we just have him and his two sons - but, every so often, one of his grandchildren will pop up for a special appearance.
14) Steph and Dom’s disabled son changed their lives
Speaking with Times Magazine, the pair explained that, when their eldest son, Max (now 15), was four months old, they noticed that Max was making "little jerky movements".
Steph recalled, "We took a video of him and showed it to the GP, who immediately referred us to the paediatric consultant at the local hospital who said, 'I think we have a problem and I need you to come in first thing Monday morning. Bring a bag.'"
It soon transpired that Max was suffering from autism and epilepsy, changing the family's lives forever.
The teenager now spends term time in a special residential school, but, in the holidays, he spends his time with his doting mum and dad, as well as his younger sister, Honor.
Steph said, "We drink socially to enjoy ourselves, but when the kids are at home, it is family time. They are the most important people to us in the world."
15) Scarlett Moffatt had a job alongside her role on Gogglebox
The no-nonsense Durham lass was a disability advisor for students and, as if that weren't impressive enough, she's also a trained ballroom dancer.
Since leaving Gogglebox, Scarlett has gone on to star in I'm A Celebrity and has presented on Streetmate and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
16) The Tapper family were originally considered for another TV show
Channel 4 had initially considered Nikki for another programme, Jewish Mum Of The Year.
"I'd just recovered from breast cancer and my mum nominated me," Nikki explained to The Sunday Post.
"But I ended up not going on it – actually Jonathan didn't want me to do it. The researcher, who came round and met the kids, must have kept my number and phoned out of the blue saying she was helping out with this small four-week programme."
However they almost didn't appear, as she explained, "I didn't understand how it would be done and I didn't think Jonathan would have any interest in being on TV."
17) The Malones originally turned Gogglebox producers down
The family were approached at a dance school called Studio 25 to appear on the Channel 4 programme, where Tom Jr teaches and Julie helps out on reception.
"Tom Senior said no," the mum explained to Manchester Evening News. "We explained about the rottweilers and the staffie but they still wanted us.
"They came over and had a chat, and took a video of us chatting. Three weeks later someone rang and said we like you, and Tom changed his mind."
We're so glad they changed their minds, because it's not just the human members of the Malone family we love; the family had FIVE dogs who often appear on the show, named Dave, Lucy, Frankie, Izzie and Joe.
In May 2018, the Malone family posted a heartbreaking tribute after their beloved dog Frank passed away.
18) The show isn’t scripted
A whistleblower came out in 2014 to claim that the show was a "fix", with producers passing jokes to the sofa stars and reshooting scenes to make them funnier.
They told The Star, "Sometimes we are told: 'Louis Walsh is going to say something shocking on X Factor so we want you to react to that.'
"If you can't think of anything, the producers come up with a joke. If you fluff it they film it again."
However the banter is REAL, a Channel 4 spokesman later revealed, saying, "The Gogglebox cast are filmed for two to three nights per week. We film them watching live television and some that has been recorded.
"The production team do not influence the comments. The reactions are genuine."
19) There's an American version of Gogglebox
Yes, the USA does have its own version of Gogglebox, and they're not the only other country to get in on the action. In fact, there have been a whopping FIFTEEN international versions of Gogglebox, the USA, Australia, Canada, China, Ukraine, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Israel, Germany, Finland, Norway, Belgium, and France.
20) You can’t apply to be on Gogglebox
That's right, there are no application forms or auditions - it's all been organised so that the show only has ordinary, no-nonsense people on their screens.
But the mother and grandmother reveals that Leon’s spirit remains present in the house they shared together since meeting at teacher training college in 1955.
“People talk about how difficult it is coming into an empty house, nut it’s funny, I never really feel the house is empty somehow."
“It’s strange going out on my own, though, and things like driving the car are hard, because he always wanted to be behind the wheel.”
Back in September June released a memoir about her life with Leon, and said that the public’s reaction to his death has been a huge comfort.
“People just keep stopping me and giving me a squeeze to tell me they’re sorry about losing Leon,” she says.
‘He was so well-liked and so kind-hearted – there isn’t a Big Issue seller in the city who didn’t know him. He’d stop for every homeless person on the street, and would say, ‘I’ve got the money to give.'"
❤️❤️❤️
Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for music, Cool FM on 97.4FM, online, on our Rayo app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Cool FM’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists, from Pete Snodden in the morning to the NI Hit 40.
