Gogglebox cast gasp as they watch ‘biggest curveball ever’ for new series

Gogglebox is back for series 26 on Channel 4 (Picture: Channel 4/Gogglebox)

The Gogglebox cast were left in a classic state of surprise as the Channel 4 armchair critic hit returned to screens this week.

The cast has had a huge shake-up since we last saw them, with several new additions as well as some faces dropped from the sofa line-up.

One of the shows the households were tasked with watching in the latest episode was some classic soap fare over on Coronation Street.

The storyline unfolding on the cobbles concerned Abi Webster (Sally Carman) and her secret lover Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard), whose head had been turned by another Walford resident. 

Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) was on the case and tracked down Carl to a hotel, where he managed to convince her he wasn’t having a daytime tryst (he was).

When Tracey left and the camera turned to reveal who Carl’s partner in the bed was, Gogglebox viewers were surprised to see he was sharing a passionate afternoon with James Bailey (Jason Callender). 

Sophie Sandiford declared the ITV soap’s reveal ‘the biggest curveball’, while Gogglebox viewers at home were similarly surprised to learn that Carl is having not one, but two affairs on the go. 

Tracey came knocking at the hotel (Picture: Danielle Baguley/Shutterstock) Carl is having another secret affair with James (Picture: ITV)

@mishybabez_ wrote on X: ‘Everyone’s reactions to that Carl and James twist is everything,’ as @EnfieldGarry echoed: ‘Yeah we all had the same reaction to that scene.’

@Olivia121994_ said: ‘That was my mum’s exact reaction as well!’ as @Rise_and_grind7 joked about the soap: ‘How is Tracey still doing the same s*** as when I last watched Corrie 20 years ago.’

It’s been all change for this season of Gogglebox, as the show added five new families to the roster. 

The new cast members include a couple of friends from Glasgow, a family from Surrey, and a couple from the Cotswolds, as well as sisters from Edinburgh and a mother and daughter-in-law duo from Yorkshire.

Mike Cotton, creative director of producers Studio Lambert, said it was ‘a delight to welcome some new households to the Gogglebox family’

There are five new households on the show (Picture: Channel 4/PA Wire)

He added: ‘Along with our much-loved returning cast, we can’t wait to join them in their living rooms and hear their candid thoughts on this week’s most talked about TV.’

However, we also said goodbye to Scottish couple Joe Kyle and Roisin Kelly. Roisin said they were ‘brutally axed from Gogglebox’ in a post to her Instagram in July.

She wrote that Channel 4 ‘have not asked us back for season 26’, describing the show as ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’.

Channel 4 said: ‘We thank Joe and Roisin for their contributions to Gogglebox over the years, and wish them all the best for the future.’

Gogglebox returns on Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.

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