Beloved Gogglebox Australia personality Emmie Silbery has died, aged 96.
Silbery was the “oldest woman on TV”, according to her granddaughter and fellow Gogglebox participant Isabelle Silbery, and had suffered from dementia for years.
On Instagram, Isabelle wrote a tribute to her grandmother: “Our Emmie, waited for me to come home for one last snuggle. Her last words, ‘I’m ready to hang up now’. She was 96, an orphan, a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, the oldest woman on TV, a great grandmother, an author and so much more.”
“Thank you for loving her as much as we did and will forever. Have a big rest now — you deserve it. Xxxxx.”
Emmie shot to fame in 2015 when she first appeared on Gogglebox with her daughter Kerry and granddaughter Isabelle. The trio quickly became fan favourites, with their blend of witty, thoughtful and cheeky multi-generational banter.
In early 2023, the Silbery family revealed that Emmie would no longer be appearing on the show after receiving a dementia diagnosis.
“We are sad to announce that Emmie won’t be joining us on the couch for Gogglebox Australia this season,” the family posted on Instagram at the time.
“It’s been a very challenging time for our family and we’ve had to make some difficult decisions. Emmie has been diagnosed with dementia and we wanted to be transparent about this as many families experience it.”
“Emmie will be watching and rest assured she’s happy and being cared for.”
The following year, Isabelle revealed that their contribution on the show had been dropped by Foxtel.
“It’s with a very heavy heart to announce that Mum, Ruby [her baby] and I will not be returning to Gogglebox in 2025 🥺💔 Foxtel have decided not to renew our beloved show and although the show will continue on Channel 10, the three of us have not been included in its new form,” she wrote.
“9 years ago, I saw an opportunity to showcase real women’s voices across multi-generations. Baby Ruby filling in for Emmie in recent seasons made it feel full circle. It has been an absolute pleasure sharing our lounge rooms with you all and cannot thank you enough for the love and support. It might be the end of an era but it’s also an opportunity for new exciting beginnings…”
In January 2024, Emmie joined a group of Gogglebox cast for a reunion which was captured and shared on socials by one of the cast members.
Tributes have poured in from Emmie’s Gogglebox castmates, including Angie Kent, who went on to star on The Bachelorette.
“Beautiful Emmie. Words can’t describe what you meant to so many of us,” she wrote. “Thank you for the countless laughs, tears, goosebumps and memories! Rest now. Your girls are so loved and looked after.”
Fellow Gogglebox participants Matty Fahd, Lee Riley and her husband Keith Riley also took to Instagram to pay tribute.
“It was an honour to have met her. She was a truly special woman. May she rest in peace,” Fahd commented on Isabelle’s post.
“Our hearts are so heavy with sadness,” wrote Lee and Keith Riley.
“Emmie was our adopted grandmother to Keith and I as we lost our grandparents years ago. You told us so many stories about your life and now they are memories for us to keep. Rest in peace, sweetheart you’ll never be far from our hearts.”
Former The Project host Lisa Wilkinson said she was “so sad to hear the news” and described Emmie as “a beautiful, talented, giving soul.”
“I hope she knew that. Glad you got that last snuggle. Sending love to you and your wonderful mum,” she wrote.
Actor Pia Miranda wrote: “I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending you and your family all the love. She was an icon.”
Become a Women’s Agenda Foundation member and support our work! We are 100% independent and women-owned. Every day, we cover the news from a women’s perspective, advocating for women’s safety, economic security, health and opportunities. Foundation memberships are currently just $5 a month. Bonus: you’ll receive our weekly editor’s wrap of the key stories to know every Saturday. Become a member here.