Gogglebox star shares granddaughter's heartbreaking message to Santa after dad's death

A star of Channel 4's Gogglebox has opened up about the death of her beloved son, George Gilbey. Linda McGarry starred on the show alongside George and her husband, Pete McGarry.

The trio became a firm favourite with fans but in recent years, tragedy has struck the Essex family. Popular George tragically died in March, aged 40, after falling 80ft from a warehouse roof skylight while working.

And now Linda has shared that George's eight-year-old daughter, Amelie, has written a heartbreaking letter to Santa in the wake of her dad's death. The youngster wrote that she would swap all of her gifts to have her "daddy back".

POLL: Would you feel safe travelling in a driverless shuttle?

It comes after Linda took Amelie to Lanzarote along with George's ex, Gemma Conway. They now plan on returning to the island to spread George's ashes.

Speaking to the Mirror, 74-year-old Linda said: "It was perfect for Amelie. We went a whole week without crying in front of her. I promised her that [Lanzarote] is going to be our special place. It was absolutely wonderful."

Amelie visits Linda's home for one weekend every month, and Linda has created a 'fairy room' which houses some of George's belongings for her to spend time in.

The grandmother, who suffers with Parkinson's disease, was recently rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke. She said: "I’m so lucky that my friends were here and they got me to the hospital.

"On the tests, they couldn’t find where it had come from, but I think it’s the shock of George. There’s no bigger stress than what I went through.”

George's death came three years after his stepdad Pete died from bowel cancer.

Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need

BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live's festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city - among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little.

There are THREE simple ways to help.

1. Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist. In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium.
2. Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham - this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes.
3. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286.

Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children's centres and charities around the city.

Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail.

Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support.