GEORGE Gilbey chatted to his fellow Celebrity Big Brother star Ricci Guarnaccio just a few days before he died.
The pair met in the Big Brother house in 2014, becoming friends thanks to their similar sense of humour.
Long after the show finished, Ricci (who finished eighth) and George (who came in fourth) remained close, with the pair quickly enjoying nights out together with their co-stars.
George, who first found fame on Channel 4’s Gogglebox, left family and friends devastated after he died in an accident at work this week aged 40.
Ricci told The Sun Online: “I’m absolutely devastated. I was speaking to him last week.
“I’m gutted. It doesn’t feel real, to be honest with you.
Read More on George Gilbey
“George has always been the one that’s kept in touch with all of us to be honest with you.
“He’s always been that binding piece that we all keep in touch together.
“We spent a lot of time with each other when we came out of Big Brother, and we’ve kept in touch over the years.
“He’s definitely gonna be missed.
Most read in News TV
“The call was just about a post for his friend’s daughter, that’s all it was about last week.
“There was nothing major and saying, we’ll have to catch up soon.
“And that was basically it.
“He was taken far too young for a 40-year-old man to lose his life in the way he has as well, you know, in the unfortunate circumstances of, you know, accidental death.
“It’s pretty hard.”
The CBB star passed away after “falling from a height,” the Essex police confirmed.
A follow-up statement confirmed an arrest has since been made.
A police spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing investigation into the death of a man in Campfield Road, Shoebury on Wednesday 27 March, we have arrested a man in their 40s from the Witham area on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
“This is a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive and our enquiries are ongoing.”
Latest…
Ricci also paid a touching tribute to his pal saying: “He was just a loveable person. Honestly, the cheeky… he was just cheeky as f**k! We had some laughs I can’t even describe to you.
“Being from Newcastle and he was in his southern life, like proper ‘alright mate’, one of them Jack the Lads, and it was kind of… we just all clicked.
“I think what he’ll liked to be remembered as, you know, as a loving, caring father to be honest with you.
“I think his daughter meant the world to him and, you know, she was the most important thing in his life.”
It comes after George’s pals screamed at him to “get down” as he scaled a roof without a harness before his tragic death.
The horror came three years after stepdad Peter McGarry, who starred with him and mum Linda McGarry, 74, on Gogglebox, passed away from cancer.
Cause of death
George’s cause of death has now been revealed by police.
Essex Police this afternoon said: “We received a report of an incident at Campfield Road in Shoebury at around 10am this morning (27 March), during which a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury.
“The ambulance service including air ambulance were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene.
“We will continue liaising with partners including the Heath and Safety Executive.
“A cordon remains in place at the scene.”
George had also recently been trying to get his life back on track after months of drinking heavily, friends said.
The star also sparked an intense relationship with Made in Chelsea’s Stephanie Pratt on CBB – before it ended with the “worst betrayal”.
During the show he sparked a romance with Stephanie Pratt – with the pair snogging on air.
And just 17 days after they met George admitted he had fallen in love with her.
But once Stephanie was booted from the show George moved on quickly, and was seen smooching Bewitched star Edele Lynch under the covers during the live final.
George’s mum ‘in bits’
ONE of George’s close pals told The Sun that his beloved mum, Linda McGarry, has been left devastated over her son’s untimely passing.
They said: “This will hit his family very hard, especially Linda.
“First, she lost Pete, now her son as well.
“She is incredibly emotional.
“George was like her little treasure.”
Pete died suddenly in 2021 at the age of 71 from bowel cancer.
He passed away days after being told he had six months left to live.
Linda said her son had been left “really cut up” at the time.
She said: “Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years.
“I said to him, ‘We’ve not only been 25 years, it’s been day and night with each other.’ He was my life.”
After the show, George once again managed to charm Stephanie over, telling her: “I really do love you, Edele was just a fling. Can you forgive me?”
But weeks later the Made in Chelsea star said the betrayal had been too much for her.
George’s mum Linda McGarry has also thanked fans for their support following her son’s tragic death.
Linda chose to have George’s close friend Ricci Guarnaccio speak on her behalf while she tries to come to terms with what has happened.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Speaking to The Sun, Ricci said: “Linda wants to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sent condolences.
“She just wants everyone to remember him for who he was. She’s obviously hurt at the minute but it’s hugely appreciated.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/feed/
Fay Leyfield
