Gogglebox continues on Channel 4 and one of the show’s most popular couples is couple Giles Wood and Mary Killen.

Giles and Mary joined Gogglebox in 2015 and were quick to establish themselves as firm fan favourites due to their on-screen chemistry and humorous exchanges.

The popular couple – who refer to one another as “nutty” – welcome fans into their cottage in Wiltshire as they provide commentary on latest TV shows and current events.

While Giles’ posh accent and Mary’s dry humour have provided fans with hours of entertainment, they have different jobs that keep them busy outside of their reality TV career.

But what do we know about their life outside of Gogglebox?

How Giles and Mary met each other and pet name

Giles and Mary first met at the age of 21 when she was a model and he was at Wimbledon Art School.

The quirky star and her Giles tied the knot over 30 years ago and they have two grown-up daughters together. They don’t feature on the show, although one was reportedly due to appear alongside Giles before deciding against the idea.

The pair affectionately call each other “nutty”, a pet name that has left viewers scratching their heads.

Explaining the pet name, Mary said: “We call each other ‘nutty’ because we both consider the other to be a bit mad.

“Giles has multiple personality disorder so he’s all sorts of people and one of them is a bit of a genius. The truth is we’re both neurotic.”

Despite appearing very close on the show, they have admitted to facing challenges in their relationship but credit the Channel 4 programme with bringing them closer together.

Giles and Mary told the Daily Mail that their participation in the show ‘saved their marriage’. Giles recounted how their routine changed dramatically due to the show: “Working together on Gogglebox – watching telly at the same time – meant Mary and I suddenly no longer lived like two intimate strangers, Mary working from 6am till 8pm, then falling asleep slightly drunk at 9pm; me gardening from 1pm till 3.30pm, when I have lunch, and then going to bed at two in the morning after watching vintage horror films.

“It has definitely saved our marriage.”

Mary’s health scare and quitting alcohol

Mary Killen was struck by a severe bout of campylobacter food poisoning six years ago, which she suspects came from “grubby” homegrown vegetables.

While on antibiotics during her treatment, Mary found herself unable to drink alcohol.

She recalled her experience to the Daily Mail: “Immediately afterward, I found I couldn’t face alcohol. I remember going to a house party on the Isle of Mull a short time later. All sorts of wonderful wines were being served and I couldn’t touch any of them.”

Surprisingly, the sudden aversion reminded her of pregnancy : “It made me recoil,” she explained.

The condition she suffered from, campylobacteriosis, is an infection from bacteria commonly found in tainted food and water, and can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, cramps, and fever.

But her bout with food poisoning comes at a contrast with contracting Legionnaires’ disease. Speaking to the Guardian, Mary revealed: “The closest I’ve come to death was contracting Legionnaires’ disease in 1999.

“I caught it from air conditioning in the Bahamas and developed something called Beau’s lines: white ridges across the fingernails which are a sign that your body’s shutting down for death.”

Coming out of the ordeal battered but alive, she confessed: “It knocked the stuffing out of me. I’ve never been quite the same since.”

What are Giles and Mary’s jobs outside of Gogglebox?

The couple, like all other Gogglebox families, get paid £1,500 a month to appear on the show. They also film in two six-hour shifts each week.

Beyond Gogglebox, Mary works as an agony aunt and columnist for The Spectator, as well as being a published author with books focusing on etiquette including the title How the Queen Can Make You Happy,

Giles contributes to a magazine called The Oldie but his wider career is more of a mystery. A previous episode of Gogglebox saw Mary reference how he had “retired at 21” as they watched a documentary about the Covid-19 pandemic.

Giles said: “Just as I’m starting to enjoy my retirement.” Mary then replied: “What retirement? You haven’t worked first. You retired at 21, so now you can start working, do it in reverse.”

While Giles may not have a 9-5 job, his personal website has revealed that he is an artist. He paints homes and landscapes and charges up to £250 for a framed print of his work.

Explaining his work, On the site, he explains what draws him to painting.

He said: “I like the contemplative aspect — sitting for several days in a room, watching the light change. There are as many changes as with a landscape. I always work in oils as they give more depth. The finished painting should offer an insight into the painter as well as the subject.”

Inside their home life in ‘The Grottage’

Viewers have become used to seeing inside the living room of the pair’s gorgeous thatched Wiltshire cottage on the show, where they settle down to watch the TV and discuss the hot topics of the day.

Giles and Mary have lived in their home for around 30 years and have nicknamed it ‘The Grottage’. They say it has paint peeling from the ceilings and no central heating.

Their front room has become iconic among viewers, not least for the matching wallpaper, curtains and upholstery on Mary’s armchair.

The living room is perhaps the most iconic space in their home and the backdrop of their time on screen, featuring a blend of matching wallpaper, curtains, and sofas, all adorned with a delightful green and white floral pattern.

A bookshelf is situated in the background, while a sizeable painting hangs on the wall above Mary’s armchair. A petite side table, painted with a cat’s face, rests between the couple’s chairs, supporting a white phone.

Their social media activity also reveals other interesting snippets, such as Giles’ skills on the piano – and penchant for stylish hats.