The highly anticipated return of Celebrity Big Brother unfolded on Monday evening, ushering in a new group of well-known personalities into the show’s signature house. Hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, the premiere episode saw each celebrity formally introduced to both a live audience and viewers at home – with reactions proving decidedly mixed.
The 2025 lineup, officially revealed during the broadcast, features a diverse collection of figures: Chesney Hawkes, JoJo Siwa, Trisha Goddard, Chris Hughes, Patsy Palmer, Michael Fabricant, Jack P. Shepherd, Ella Wise, Daley Thompson, Donna Preston, Angellica Bell, Danny Beard and Mickey Rourke.
The initial response online was far from unanimous. Some expressed disappointment, with one viewer writing on X:
“Jesus wept. I had ITV for 10 mins and had to turn it off. All the f***ing sqwarking (and that’s just the two presenters) #CBB”
Others echoed similar sentiments:
- “Bottom of the barrel #CBB #CBBUK #CelebrityBigBrother,”
- “I’m certainly struggling with who some of them are #CBB,”
- “No shade to Ella but I can’t believe we are still resorting to hiring TOWIE cast members when it hasn’t been relevant now for the best part of a decade #CBB #CBBUK.”
However, a significant portion of viewers expressed enthusiasm. One wrote: “cast is great on paper and has so much potential, got a great feeling about this series #CBB #CBBUK.” Another predicted the season could rival previous standout years: “This cast has the potential to be as good as Gemma Collins & Tiffany Pollard’s year #CBB #CBBUK,” while another simply declared, “Love love love this line up!! #cbb.”
The new cohort of VIPs will participate in the classic Big Brother experiment within a redesigned house located at a brand-new venue.
Patsy Palmer, known for her role on EastEnders, shared her anticipation before entering:
“I’m really looking forward to walking through the iconic doors and meeting a group of brand-new people. It’s a fascinating experience, and that’s one aspect that excites me. I’m also looking forward to having a break from technology. We all spend so much time on our phones so having no access to that will be incredibly refreshing.”
She added what she would miss most:
“The main thing I’m going to miss the most is my family. We’re all incredibly close and speak all the time. It’s going to be strange not being able to have a conversation with one of them when I feel like it.”
When asked about her potential as a housemate, Palmer emphasized her approach:
“One thing I really pride myself in is being someone who tries to find solutions instead of problems. It’s a much more positive approach and has worked well for me in the past.”
Jack P. Shepherd, also an actor from Coronation Street, expressed excitement about the challenges ahead:
“Probably just every experience that comes with it – the Diary Room, the nominations. I think I’ll like the tasks because that’s the big event – when you can all come together.”
