Mary said Giles never properly started to work in the first place
Giles and Mary on Gogglebox (Image: Channel 4)
Star of Channel 4’s fly-on-the-wall Gogglebox series Giles Wood managed to “retire” at a young age thanks to a lucrative job. Giles first burst onto the screen with his wife, Mary Killen, in 2015 and were instantly welcomed up by fans for their dry, sarcastic commentary.
Mary is an agony aunt for the Spectator, penning a regular column sharing advice on etiquette – as well as being the author of many books, including 2012’s How the Queen Can Make You Happy.
Mary was once the face of a 1970s Heinz Soup advertising campaign and together with Giles, they have two grown-up daughters who prefer to remain out of the public eye.
Their affectionate dynamic toward one another is picked up in every episode but very little is known about their personal lives. The couple met when they were in their early 20s when Mary was acting as a model and Giles was studying at Wimbledon Art School.
Though Mary continues to work, Giles has had a much easier time, managing to ‘retire at 21’ thanks to his job as a painter. While watching a documentary on coronavirus on the Channel 4 show, he said: “Just as I’m starting to enjoy my retirement.”
Mary said: “What retirement? You haven’t worked first. You retired at 21, so now you can start working – do it in reverse.”
Giles and Mary on Gogglebox (Image: Channel 4)
He may have been able to kick his feet up at a young age but on his personal website it reveals that the star is a skilled painter, with his prints selling for £250 and larger pieces fetching up top £750.
He enjoys painting the clutter of peoples’ lives and popular demand has recently led him away from his trademark landscapes to specialise in interiors. On the site, Giles 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.”
His artwork includes beautiful paintings of homes and landscapes, with some framed prints selling for hundreds.
You can take a look at Giles’ work on his website.