Fans have been paying tribute to the beloved TV personality on Twitter, after it was confirmed he had passed away aged 83.
And now an emotional video of Leon Bernicoff declaring his undying love for wife June has emerged online, twenty four hours after his death.
The clip, which aired on Gogglebox back in 2015, sees the pair discussing the afterlife – leading Leon to sweetly assure June they will ‘always’ meet each other again in heaven.
‘Always, June’: an emotional video of Leon Bernicoff declaring his undying love for wife June has emerged online, twenty four hours after his death
The touching moment sees Leon and June watching a moment from Gladiator, which followed the late lead character reuniting with his wife and son in heaven.
Welling up at the moment, Leon is heard saying: ‘He’s died and he’s joined them. I like to think that’s true, you know.’
To which June replies: ‘Yeah, well you do, don’t you? Especially when you get to our age.’
Doing what they do best: The touching moment sees Leon and June watching a moment from Gladiator, which followed the late lead character reuniting with his wife and son in heaven
Emotional: Welling up at the moment, Leon is heard saying: ‘He’s died and he’s joined them. I like to think that’s true, you know’
Agreement: To which June replies: ‘Yeah, well you do, don’t you? Especially when you get to our age’
Proving his endless love for his wife, Leon then adds with tears in his eyes: ‘I’d join you, you see. Always, June.’
The clip was shared on Twitter hours after his death – breaking the hearts of fans, and leading them to pay further tribute to Leon on the site.
One kicked things off by praising: ”Always June’ Such a lovely man and the sort of relationship most can only dream of having RIP lovely Leon.’
Heart-warming: Proving his endless love for his wife, Leon then adds with tears in his eyes: ‘I’d join you, you see. Always, June’
Devastating: The clip was shared on Twitter hours after his death – breaking the hearts of fans
While another added: ‘I love that. ‘I’d join you, always June’ oh if only we were all so lucky to find love like that. That’s brought a tear to my eye.’
Further emotional fans chimed in: ‘OMG I’m in floods at this. So beautiful’ and ‘Absolutely beautiful moment. Much love to June and his family.’
Others even confessed the moment stuck out as one of the best in Gogglebox history, adding: ‘Aww I remember this. RIP Leon a man of principle , good humour and genuine warmth.’
And: ‘My favourite moment ever in Gogglebox history. Thought of it after hearing sad news on Leon, Thank you for sharing!’
RIP: Viewers immediately began to pay further tribute to Leon on the site
Leon’s bereft wife June thanked viewers for their messages of support on Saturday night, adding that ‘Leon would have loved reading them’.
Tributes poured in for the the star, 83, who passed away yesterday in hospital following a short illness.
They included messages of support from fellow stars of the hit Channel 4 show — including television personality Scarlett Moffatt, who said Leon was ‘loved by so many’.
Leon’s widow, June, took to Twitter to thank viewers for their countless messages of support.
‘Sharp wit’: Gogglebox favourite Leon Bernicoff died in hospital on Saturday following a short illness
Leon’s widow, June, tonight took to Twitter to thank viewers for their countless messages of support
Leon was born on October 27 1934. He is survived by wife June (left and right), two daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren.
The retired teacher, pictured left with June on their wedding day in 1960) was adored for his legendary wit
As well as his wife June, he is survived by his two daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren
She said: ‘Thank you folks for all your wonderful messages. Leon would have loved reading them and hearing how much he was loved.
‘Goodnight and God bless!’
Leon, a retired teacher, had been looking forward to spending Christmas with June, as revealed in a final tweet posted on Friday.
They said: ‘Goodnight folks! Christmas is almost here, let’s all try to remember it’s the season on [sic] good will however fraught we get!!!’
The Gogglebox legends were one of the first couples to join the show’s cast when it launched in 2013.
A devoted Everton fan, Leon met June in 1955 with the couple marrying five years later.
During his run on the programme – which shows families across Britain watching television – he described both Nigel Farage and Jamie Oliver as a ‘d***head’.
Tributes have poured in for much-loved star, including from co-Gogglebox personality Scarlett Moffatt (right)
‘I THOUGHT SHE WAS GORGEOUS AND I STILL DO’: THE LOVE THAT LASTED A LIFETIME
Leon, a retired teacher, was one of the first people to join the show’s cast – along with his wife June – when it launched in 2013
Gogglebox’s favourite and most adorable couple were lifelong sweethearts for six decades.
They were famous for their harmless bickering, soppy comments and Leon’s hilariously frank observations.
Speaking to the Sunday People before Valentines Day 2016, Leon said he enjoyed the fame Gogglebox brought him and June, adding: ‘I’m hugged and kissed by women in the street every day and not just in Liverpool.’
The couple met in 1955 at a teacher-training college dance, where they say it was love at first sight.
Leon said: ‘I thought she was gorgeous. And I still do. But she’s a bugger now, always nagging me! You should have seen her at 18. Wow. The prom queen.’
But Leon’s Jewish family clashed with June’s catholic upbringing and the couple had to keep their relationship a secret for four years.
‘We ended up having a very unromantic proposal. June was screaming at me saying ‘are you going to marry me or not!?’ Oh, it was awful,’ said Leon.
He added that their parents would accept them if they were serious.
Leon felt ‘relief’ on their wedding day, saying that he could ‘finally’ look after her.
While married life has been ‘stormy at times’, according to June, the couple said at the time that they could not live without each other and that the longest they had ever spent apart was just four days.
Hundreds of tributes have poured on for the Gogglebox legend, including from fellow stars of the show, Everton Football Club and the Mayor of Liverpool
Channel 4 and Studio Lambert said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sad news that after a short illness Gogglebox’s Leon Bernicoff passed away in hospital earlier today.
‘Leon and his wife June were the first members of the public to be cast for Gogglebox back in early 2013, and they soon grew to become much-loved voices during the course of the show’s 10 series to date.
‘Leon’s unique personality and sharp wit endeared him to fans of the show, as he contributed fully to Gogglebox’s reputation as a programme full of warm humour and unvarnished opinion.
‘To those of us that knew him personally, Leon was a man of unwavering principles who exerted a distinct paternal presence both on and off screen. He will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family; cast and crew.’
Since news of his passing was announced, hundreds have paid tribute to Leon.
Gogglebox co-star Scarlett Moffat tweeted: ‘Words can’t explain what you meant to so many people.
‘From your words of encouragement to me to the little DMs. Leon you were loved by so many. Sending my love to you and all of your family.’
Everton FC tweeted: ‘Our deepest condolences go out tot he family and friends of Leon, the Evertonian who entertained the nation on @C4Gogglebox.
‘Our thoughts are especially with his wife June at this terribly sad time.’
Fellow Gogglebox stars Lee Riley and Jenny Newby said: ‘Sending all our love to June and family at this sad time on the passing of our TV legend Leon R.I.P.’
The McCormick family, who also appear on the show, said that they were ‘gutted’ to hear the news.
In a statement, Channel 4 and Studio Lambert said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sad news that after a short illness Gogglebox’s Leon Bernicoff passed away in hospital earlier today’
Since news of his passing was announced, hundreds have paid tribute to Leon
They tweeted: ‘Omg I’ve just heard!!! poor#leon I’m gutted absolutely gutted. @LeonAndJune sending all our love and strength . So so sorry to hear this . Xxxx.’
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Sanderson tweeted: ‘So sad to hear Google Box Liverpool star Leon Bernicoff has died such a genuine lovely funny man, deepest sympathy to June and all his family.’
Leon was born on October 27 1934. He is survived by wife June, two daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren.