Gogglebox star Josh Tapper turned his back on reality TV to focus on politics and has now been elected as a Labour councillor nine years after quitting the Channel 4 show
18:40, 09 May 2026Updated 18:40, 09 May 2026
Josh Tapper has become a Labour councillor(Image: Amytappsx/Instagram)
At the age of 15, Josh Tapper shot to fame along with his family while on Channel 4’s Gogglebox. But he soon turned his back on reality TV leaving it to his other family members to relish in the joys of fame, while he focused on politics.
And now, nine years after his career decision, Josh, 28, has been elected as a Labour councillor after winning a seat in local government.
Josh is now the councillor for the Underhill ward in the borough of Barnet. According to reports, Josh won 1,128 votes which enabled him to win a seat alongside his fellow Labour candidate Zahra Beg.
Taking to social media, his sister Amy proudly broke the news writing: “My brother is officially a Councillor! So so proud.”
Josh’s family first shot to fame in 2013 during the show’s first series. The family, including mum Nikki and dad Jonathan, soon became fan favourites thanks to their breakdown of the week’s television programmes.
Josh Tapper has become a Labour councillor(Image: CROWN COPYRIGHT)
But their time on the show only lasted five years, although Josh quit a year before. He left after landing an apprenticeship with the Civil Service. This then spring boarded him into the world of politics.
In an in interview with Jewish News back in 2022, Josh explained: “I spent the next five years living that life while also trying to live a normal life. But I was the guy who was on TV. My days were long as we were filming the scenes in addition to school.”
According to reports, he explained on his website that in the run up to becoming a councillor, he had volunteered at cancer care charities and food banks. He was also a homeless charity trustee.
However, he narrowly missed out on becoming a councillor back in 2022 as he didn’t managed to gain enough votes in the Edgewarebury ward.
And again in 2024, he came second in the vote as a Labour candidate for Hertsmere. He had previously tried to assure the public that his young age should not be held against him as voters should focus on his track record.
The Tapper family joined Gogglebox in 2013 but quit the Channel 4 show in 2018(Image: Channel 4)
He recently said: “From reversing Tory neglect on our green spaces to pioneering institutional change of mental health support, I’ve always shown that no matter how big the challenge, I’ll always take it on and get the job done.”
In a former political campaign he said: “As your MP, I’ll focus on improving our economy so that families are better off. I also want to see more police on the streets and deal with crime like antisocial behaviour and burglaries. Labour will get the NHS back on its feet, switch on Great British Energy, take back our streets and break down the barriers to opportunity.”
At the time Josh decided to leave the Channel 4 show in 2017, TV bosses were in full support of his decision but vowed to keep the door open for him.
A source revealed at the time that “Channel 4 will, of course, keep the door open for him” but were pleased about his “exciting opportunity.”
And in an interview with The Mirror, the Labour councillor said in 2018: “The option to go back is always there, but I want to move away from that, and the focus is now very much on my job. Of course, I miss it and the sitting on the couch watching TV. But I am more focused on my future… It’s a more secure path.”
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