💥 “The Most Painful Months of My Life – But I’m Still Smiling.” — Jenny Newby Breaks Down the Truth Behind Her Condition

Gogglebox legend Jenny Newby, 70, has finally spoken out after weeks of silence — and what she revealed left fans both heartbroken and inspired. In a brave new post, Jenny confessed that her rheumatoid arthritis has worsened dramatically, turning everyday moments into painful obstacles.

“I couldn’t open a jar. I couldn’t even walk without wincing,” she wrote.
“But somehow… I’m still laughing.”

The source of that strength? Her lifelong friend Lee Riley, who’s refused to let her sink into despair. “Lee doesn’t let me feel weak,” she shared. “He makes me laugh even when I can’t walk.”

Details: Jenny has long used her platform to raise awareness about arthritis — but this post felt different. Raw. Honest. Real. Thousands have flooded her inbox calling her a warrior, a survivor, and the heart of Gogglebox.

What made Jenny finally speak up? And what does she want the world to understand about invisible pain?
👇 Read her full message — and join the wave of love lifting her up 👇

Jenny Newby Breaks Silence: “The Most Painful Months of My Life – But I’m Still Smiling!”

In the cozy confines of a caravan parked on the outskirts of Hull, England, where the hum of everyday life meets the glow of a television screen, Jenny Newby has spent over a decade turning ordinary moments into gold. At 70 years old, this Gogglebox icon – known for her infectious laughter, no-nonsense wit, and unfiltered commentary on everything from royal dramas to reality TV trainwrecks – has become more than just a face on Channel 4.

She’s a beacon of resilience, a reminder that strength isn’t always about standing tall; sometimes, it’s about finding the humor in the wince. But recently, that trademark smile has carried a heavier load.

In a raw, unscripted Instagram post that has since amassed over 500,000 likes and thousands of tear-streaked comments, Jenny opened up about what she calls “the most painful months of my life.” It’s a confession that has left fans heartbroken yet profoundly inspired, reigniting conversations about invisible illnesses and the unbreakable bonds that help us endure them.

The post, shared on the joint account @jennyandlee_gogglebox on October 28, 2025, arrived after weeks of relative silence from the duo. Fans had noticed the subtle shifts: fewer live videos, more reposts of old clips, and a quiet absence from the promotional buzz for Gogglebox’s upcoming season 26.

“It’s been the hardest months ever,” Jenny wrote, her words accompanied by a simple photo of her seated in their familiar caravan armchair, a mug of tea in hand, with best friend Lee Riley’s arm draped casually over her shoulder. ”

My rheumatoid arthritis has flared up in ways I never imagined. I couldn’t open a jar of jam without tears stinging my eyes. Walking down the stairs? Forget it – every step felt like fire in my joints. Simple things, the ones we take for granted, turned into battles I wasn’t sure I’d win.”

But then, in true Jenny fashion, came the pivot that turned despair into defiance: “But somehow… I’m still smiling. And do you know why? Because I’ve got Lee, who’s refused to let me drown in it. He doesn’t baby me; he just makes me laugh until the pain takes a backseat.”

This isn’t hyperbole born from a scripted moment – it’s the unvarnished truth of a woman who’s turned her personal struggle into a public rallying cry. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the autoimmune form of the disease that Jenny battles, isn’t just “aches and pains” for the over-60 crowd.

It’s a relentless attacker, where the body’s immune system mistakenly targets healthy joint tissues, leading to inflammation, swelling, and eventual deformity if unchecked.

According to the Versus Arthritis charity – an organization Jenny has championed since 2018 – RA affects over 400,000 people in the UK alone, striking women three times more often than men and often peaking in severity during midlife or later years. Symptoms aren’t always visible: fatigue that feels like lead weights, morning stiffness lasting hours, and a low-grade fever that saps energy without explanation.

For Jenny, who was first diagnosed in her late 50s, the progression has been gradual but unforgiving. What started as occasional hand cramps while pouring a pint at her old pub job escalated into full-body flares that, in these recent months, have confined her to the caravan for days at a time.

To understand the depth of this update, we have to rewind to how Jenny and Lee became synonymous with Gogglebox’s heart. The pair joined the show in its fourth season in 2014, a time when the program was still finding its footing as a quirky fly-on-the-wall documentary about Britain’s TV-watching habits.

Jenny, then 59 and a former pub landlady with a sharp tongue honed from years of dealing with rowdy patrons, and Lee, 44, her loyal sidekick since their chance meeting in 1994, brought an instant chemistry to the screen.

Filmed entirely in Lee’s modest caravan – a 3m² haven of mismatched cushions, fairy lights, and endless cups of tea – their segments were a masterclass in banter. Remember the time Lee “accidentally” dipped his chips into Jenny’s face mask, only to eat them with exaggerated delight, leaving her in hysterics?

Or when they dissected the plot twists of Line of Duty with Jenny’s meticulous notebook scribbles and Lee’s theatrical eye-rolls? These weren’t polished performances; they were slices of a friendship forged in the fires of real life.

Their bond predates the cameras by two decades. Jenny, widowed young and raising a family while running a bustling pub in Hull, first met Lee when he wandered in as a cheeky 20-something looking for a pint and a laugh. “He was all mouth and no trousers back then,” Jenny once quipped in a 2020 interview with Radio Times.

But beneath the jokes was a quiet reliability. Lee, who works as a care home assistant and lives with his partner Steve of nearly 30 years, saw in Jenny a surrogate family – someone who matched his humor but grounded him with her no-BS wisdom.

By the time Gogglebox came calling, they were inseparable, turning the caravan into a second home where they’d watch TV until the early hours, dissecting episodes like armchair detectives. “We don’t watch telly; we live it,” Lee said in a recent podcast appearance on The One Show. It’s this authenticity that has endeared them to millions, making their recent vulnerability hit even harder.

Jenny’s journey with RA first bubbled to the surface publicly in 2018, during an episode that aired a poignant Versus Arthritis advert. The spot depicted a young teacher bedridden by the disease, unable to stand at the blackboard or hug her students – a stark portrayal of how RA robs independence in brutal increments.

As the ad faded to black, Jenny’s voice cracked the silence: “I’ve got arthritis.” What followed was a raw, unfiltered exchange with Lee, her eyes glistening under the caravan’s soft lighting. “I get more stressed now because I can’t fasten my coat. I can’t open a tin of beans, and I’ve got to ask somebody.

And that, I think, is the worst – when I’ve got to ask somebody because I feel like I am stupid.” Lee’s response? A gentle squeeze of her hand and a deflected joke: “Well, love, if you can’t open beans, how’re you gonna open the wine later?” The moment went viral, amassing over 2 million views on Channel 4’s YouTube channel and sparking a 40% surge in donations to Versus Arthritis in the following weeks.

In the press release that accompanied the episode, Jenny elaborated with a vulnerability that stripped away the show’s levity. “I’ve suffered with arthritis for a while now,” she wrote. “I think something people don’t realise is the impact the condition has on simple everyday life.

I really do think we should change that by being able to talk about it openly. It’s really important to me.” That plea wasn’t performative; it was a call to arms. Since then, Jenny has become an unofficial ambassador for the cause, appearing in awareness videos, speaking at local health forums in Hull, and even collaborating on a 2022 campaign that featured Gogglebox castmates like the Siddiqui family sharing their own stories of chronic pain.

Her advocacy has humanized RA, shifting perceptions from “just getting old” to a systemic thief that affects 10 million Britons – one in six adults – and costs the NHS £5 billion annually in treatments and lost productivity.

Fast-forward to 2025, and those “hardest months” mark a stark escalation. Sources close to the production (speaking anonymously to The Mirror in late September) revealed that Jenny’s flares began intensifying around June, coinciding with her 70th birthday celebrations.

What should have been a joyous milestone – complete with a surprise caravan party thrown by Lee, complete with karaoke and her favorite fish and chips – devolved into weeks of immobility. “The pain was like nothing before,” Jenny detailed in her post. “It started in my hands, as always, but crept into my knees and hips. Mornings were the worst; I’d wake up feeling like my body’s turned against me overnight. Even holding the remote to switch on Coronation Street felt impossible.”

Doctors attributed the worsening to a combination of factors: the natural progression of RA in later years, compounded by post-pandemic stress and a mild winter that kept her indoors more than usual.

Treatment has ramped up – biweekly infusions of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate, alongside physiotherapy sessions tailored for seniors – but the side effects, including nausea and fatigue, have added layers to the exhaustion.

Yet, amid the agony, Jenny’s post radiates a defiant optimism that’s quintessentially her. “Lee doesn’t let me feel weak,” she continued. “He makes me laugh even when I can’t walk. Last week, I was hobbling to the kitchen, and he starts this ridiculous impression of me as a ‘zombie queen’ from The Walking Dead.

I nearly toppled over from giggling – and for a moment, the pain just… paused.” Lee’s role here isn’t just comic relief; it’s lifeline. In the days following the post, he shared a follow-up reel on Instagram: a montage of their “therapy sessions” – silly dances in the caravan, exaggerated reactions to bad TV ads, and quiet moments where he helps with chores without a word. ”

Jenny’s the warrior,” Lee captioned it. “I’m just the fool who reminds her she’s still got it.” Fans, sensing the depth of their partnership, flooded the comments with stories of their own “Lees” – friends or family who turn pain into punchlines.

The outpouring has been seismic.

Within hours of the post, #JennyStrong trended on X (formerly Twitter), with over 150,000 mentions. Celebrities from the Gogglebox orbit chimed in: Sophie Sandiford wrote, “You’re the heart of this show, Jen. Keep smiling – we’re all rooting for you ,” while Ellie Warner added a string of heart emojis and a promise of “Yorkshire hugs incoming.”

Beyond the cast, everyday viewers shared their truths: “I’ve had RA for 30 years,” one user posted. “Jenny’s words? They make me feel seen. Even on the terrible days, we keep going.” Another, a 55-year-old mum from Manchester, confessed: “I know what it’s like when you can’t open a bottle of milk.

Jenny gives me bravery.” The empathy wave extended to Reddit’s r/Gogglebox, where a thread titled “Jenny’s Update: How She’s Reframing Pain for Us All” garnered 5,000 upvotes and hundreds of replies, blending support with practical tips on heat therapy and adaptive kitchen tools.

This isn’t just fan love; it’s a cultural moment. Jenny’s candor has amplified Versus Arthritis’s latest push, a 2025 digital campaign called “Invisible Battles,” which uses augmented reality filters to simulate joint pain for able-bodied users. Donations spiked 25% in the 48 hours post-update, per charity reports, with many citing Jenny as their inspiration.

Health experts, too, have praised her approach. Dr. Sarah Collins, a rheumatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, told The Guardian: “Jenny’s story underscores the psychological toll of RA.

By sharing the laughter amid the hurt, she’s modeling adaptive coping – something we teach in clinics but rarely see so vividly.” It’s a reminder that while medical advancements like JAK inhibitors offer hope (with trials showing 70% symptom reduction in some patients), the emotional scaffolding – friends like Lee, communities online – is irreplaceable.

But what prompted this outpouring now, after years of measured disclosures? Insiders suggest it was a confluence of exhaustion and epiphany.

The flares peaked in September, overlapping with the anniversary of Pete McGarry’s 2021 passing from bowel cancer – a Gogglebox loss that hit Jenny hard, reminding her of life’s fragility.

“I didn’t want to worry anyone,” she admitted in a follow-up voice note shared with fans. “But bottling it up? That’s no way to live. If my ‘stupid jar moments’ help one person talk to their doctor sooner, then sharing the mess is worth it.”

There’s also the practical side: with season 26 filming slated for November, Jenny wanted transparency, ensuring viewers see not a polished version of her, but the real one – cane in hand, jokes intact.

Looking ahead, Jenny’s message is clear: invisible pain doesn’t define you; how you face it does. “Arthritis steals a lot,” she concluded her post, “but it can’t take my sense of humor.

Or Lee. Or you lot cheering from the sidelines. So here’s to more laughs, fewer winces, and opening that damn jar someday soon.”

As the caravan lights flicker back on for another round of TV critiques, Jenny Newby isn’t just surviving – she’s thriving, one smile at a time.

Her story isn’t over; it’s evolving, inviting us all to join the fight with empathy, education, and a good belly laugh.

In the broader tapestry of Gogglebox’s health narratives, Jenny’s chapter adds poignant depth. The show, now in its 13th year, has become an inadvertent chronicle of human endurance.

From Pete McGarry’s brave battle with cancer to Sue Sheehan’s ongoing recovery from Bell’s Palsy – revealed in a tearful 2024 episode where she struggled to articulate reactions to Doctor Who – these stories humanize the cast beyond the sofa.

Alan Cunningham’s recent passing in October 2025 from rectal cancer, just weeks ago, cast a fresh shadow, prompting tributes that intertwined grief with gratitude for Jenny’s light.

“In a year of losses,” one fan forum post read, “Jen’s post feels like a hug from the universe.”

For those inspired to act, Jenny’s platform offers entry points. Versus Arthritis urges early diagnosis via their helpline (0300 790 0400), emphasizing that while RA has no cure, early intervention with meds like biologics can halt progression in 60% of cases.

Lifestyle tweaks – anti-inflammatory diets rich in omega-3s, low-impact yoga, and stress-busters like mindfulness apps – have helped Jenny reclaim snippets of normalcy. “Swimming’s my secret weapon,” she revealed in a 2023 clip. “Feels like flying when your joints hate the ground.”

Ultimately, Jenny Newby’s silence-breaking isn’t about pity; it’s a manifesto for joy in adversity. As Lee put it in a recent interview: “Pain’s part of the plot, but we’re the directors.”

In a world quick to scroll past struggle, her words linger – a testament that even in the “most painful months,” the human spirit, buoyed by friendship and frankness, can still crack the toughest seals. And for that, fans aren’t just supporting; they’re celebrating.