Gogglebox star Sophie Sandiford has been met with support online after revealing the loss of her job at department store chain Debenhams.
The 24-year-old – who appears on the Channel 4 reality show with her brother Pete – appears to be one of a significant number of staff across the UK whose jobs were put at risk as Debenhams confirmed it was going into liquidation earlier this week as a result of ongoing economic struggles, particularly amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Owners announced on Tuesday that the company would be closing all 124 Debenhams stores throughout the country for good, with the chain’s collapse leaving 12,000 workers facing an uncertain future.
The department store chain has been a stalwart of UK high streets since 1778.
Sophie took to Instagram yesterday to share the sad news, along with a picture accompanied by her colleague outside the branch she works at, but despite the store’s closure, she said she “would be going with a smile”.
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The post has since gone on to amass well over 44K likes and 500+ comments of support.
One fan shared an encouraging message writing: “Hate what’s happening to the high street [but] all the best and good luck”.
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“Aww so sad for you, but you are fabulous and something bigger and better is waiting for you” wrote another.
Another fan and fellow Debenhams worker added: “Let’s make this a good Christmas”.
“Keep your chins up, if anyone can keep everyone upbeat, it’s you two.” another said
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The news of her job loss also sadly follows an episode of Gogglebox aired at the start of November where Sophie broke down into tears as the cast members reacted to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s live televised announcement that there would be a second national lockdown in England.
She became tearful as she reflected on people’s jobs and livelihoods being affected by the ongoing and latest set of lockdown measures.
She added that the lockdown was “s*** for everyone.”
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I’m A Celebrity line-up announced for brand new all-star series in South Africa
Daisy Jackson
The all-star line-up for I’m A Celebrity… South Africa has been announced, with some massive Manchester celebs taking part.
The brand new show is due to air in April and will see some of the series’ most memorable campmates heading to a new setting in South Africa.
Names involved include Bolton-born boxing legend Amir Khan, Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, and Happy Mondays legend Shaun Ryder.
And that’s just part of the first wave of celebrity contestants – more famous faces will take part in I’m A Celebrity… South Africa, entering the camp as the series goes on.
The new series will ‘push them to their limits and test them like never before’, ITV has said, promising bigger and tougher challenges and an even harsher environment.
Also taking part from the launch episode will be Diversity star Jordan Banjo, TV presenter Carol Vorderman, Olympian Fatima Whitbread, former royal butler Paul Burrell, ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell, and supermodel Janice Dickinson.
ITV said: “Whilst nodding back to the Australian jungle, I’m A Celebrity…South Africa is a uniquely different series so viewers can look forward to lots of unexpected twists and turns.”
The trailer also shows the celebs taking part in pre-recorded challenges, taking on everything from nasty food to terrifying heights.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa will air on ITV1 and ITVX from April 2023.
Featured image: ITV
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Commentator Arlo White shows off what the Old Trafford gantry walk looks like
Danny Jones
Ever wondered what it’s like to be up in the gantry in a football stadium, say, Old Trafford? Well, we certainly have.
You see the odd shot of the commentators sat there on the telly from time to time but it never really gives much away either and, at some venues, it’s quite a ways up there. There’s a little bit of allure behind these mysterious parts of footy grounds that most fans will never get to see.
After hours of mindless scrolling on the social media app, we stumbled across the well-known sports commentator‘s channel where he’s been showing off what it’s like to go in the gantry and one of them is his long walk to crow’s nest up at the Theatre of Dreams.
As it turns out, Arlo’s been doing these videos for a couple of years now, revealing how the gantry looks not only at Old Trafford but other big Premier League grounds too, such as down the road at the Etihad, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, Tottenham Hotspurs’ sparkly new ground and many more.
Another reason we found ourselves stuck on his TikTok for so long was also because of the other behind-the-scenes details he reveals too, even shedding light on how he prepares for games: note-taking, data sheets, how keeps himself warm up there during those cold nights on comms and so on.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd December 2020 
