X Factor star Katie Waissel’s grandmother Sheila Vogel-Coupe, who was known as Britain’s oldest sex worker, has died at the age of 93.
Vogel-Coupe famously opened up about her unique retirement, which she spent raking in £250 per hour.
Her daughter Josie told The Sun: ’We were so proud of her. Her passing deserves a mention because she was so unique.’
The outlet reports that she advertised her services until the Covid pandemic started, when she was diagnosed with dementia.
Vogel-Coupe, who appeared on the Channel 4 documentary My Granny The Escort, began her career as an escort after the death of her second husband, aeronautical engineer Noel Coupe, in 2004.
She previously said of her career: ‘The most important reason is because I love sex. Even thinking about it makes me feel better.
‘It doesn’t just begin with sex, there is companionship too. I have been on my own for nine years and I do get lonely. I love the companionship of gentlemen. I really have no inhibitions.’
Vogel-Coupe’s family ‘disassociated’ themselves with her when news of her job emerged, with the grandmother hitting headlines in 2010 when Katie starred on the X Factor.
Katie’s sister Natalie Davis said at the time: ‘We were completely shocked and devastated to hear of the news that my grandmother, Sheila Vogel, has been conducting immoral activities, including prostitution and pornography.
‘We, as a family, disassociate ourselves wholly from these activities and from any future stories that arise from them.
‘It is a personal family matter and we would ask that during this difficult time we are allowed space to deal with it as a family.’
Vogel-Couple defiantly responded: ‘You would have thought I had committed a murder. They couldn’t believe I could do something like that.
‘They wanted me to promise I would never do it again. I told them to stuff it.’
Katie appeared on the X Factor in 2010 and came seventh.