Gogglebox's executive producer Tania Alexander has revealed that Mary and Marina were temporarily dropped from the show for their own safety.

The two best friends have been on the show for four years, appearing together from their care home in Bristol, and featured in the first five episodes of this series.

However at the ages of 90 and 88 respectively, Mary and Marina are firmly in the vulnerable category when it comes to coronavirus.

"Unfortunately, it was not possible to film with the full cast," Alexander wrote in a piece for The Telegraph. "For example, we took the decision to tell Mary and Marina, who are in their 90s and live in a care home, that we didn't want them put at any risk so we should stop filming with them altogether.

"The ladies are safe and well looked after but often tell us they dearly miss the crews and the fun they have during filming each week."

The final episode of the current series airs on Channel 4 next Friday.