Emmie Silbery, a cherished figure on Australian reality series Gogglebox, was farewelled at a memorial service in Melbourne on Monday, with family and former castmates gathering to mark her life and career. Silbery, who appeared on the show alongside daughter Kerry and granddaughter Isabelle, died in July at age 96 after a battle with dementia.
The service, held overlooking the ocean at the Black Rock Yacht Club, was led by Gogglebox star Matt Dalton, who posted an image from the memorial to Instagram and described his role as master of ceremonies. "Honoured and thrilled to MC the Celebration of Life for ‘everyone’s TV Nan’ Emmie Milligan / Silbery," he wrote, noting she had lived "an incredible 96 years" and had been an orphan, a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother.
Also attending to celebrate Silbery were daughter Kerry and granddaughter Isabelle, former cast members Wayne and Tom, and other Gogglebox personalities including Simon and Adam, Anastasia and Faye, Lee and Keith, and the family trio Kate, Molly and Millie. Several current and former castmates posted tributes online after Isabelle announced her grandmother’s passing in July.
Isabelle said at the time that Silbery had waited for one final embrace. "Our Emmie waited for me to come home for one last snuggle. Her last words: 'I'm ready to hang up now,'" Isabelle wrote on social media. She added that Silbery had been "an orphan, a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, the oldest woman on TV, a great-grandmother, an author, and so much more. Thank you for loving her as much as we did and will forever. Have a big rest now - you deserve it."
Fellow Gogglebox cast members responded with messages of grief and gratitude. Lainey Grech wrote, "Oh, I'm so so sorry to hear. She was so beyond loved." Holly Dalton posted, "Sending all my love to you all. Rest in peace, our beloved Emmie." Keith and Lee described Silbery as an "adopted grandmother," saying she shared many stories that would remain memories for them to keep. Matty Fahd called it "an honour to have met her," and television personality Angie Kent thanked Silbery for the laughs and memories she provided viewers.
Silbery appeared on the four-time Logie Award–winning series with her family from 2016 through 2024. She stepped away from regular appearances in 2022 after 14 seasons; the Silbery family later confirmed in 2023 that she would no longer be joining them on the Gogglebox couch because of her dementia diagnosis.
Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive neurological conditions that affect memory, thinking and behaviour, with Alzheimer’s disease the most common form. There is no cure for dementia, though medical and supportive interventions can sometimes slow progression and help manage symptoms.
Those who knew Silbery at the service and on screen highlighted her warmth, storytelling and sense of humour. The memorial brought together multiple generations of her family and colleagues from the long-running reality series to reflect on a life that resonated with viewers and colleagues alike.