For me, Balvinder and Julian being saved in the semi-finals has to be my favourite moment of last year’s series. After five dance offs, coming back with that dance to Never Enough was such a moment.
What was yours?
When Mickey Rourke was cast for Celebrity Big Brother last year, it really felt like ITV were taking a step in the right direction casting wise. I think there’s nothing better than a housemate who has no idea what’s going on i.e Jackie Stallone, Gary Busey and Mickey really fit that narrative
Do I think he should have had a couple of warnings? Maybe. Do I think he should have been ejected? No. A few comments and getting in Chris's face a bit doesn’t really warrant an ejection in my eyes, and I think it’s a shame that because he was removed, ITV won’t take risks when it comes to casting in the future, which we REALLY do need.
I really do think they should start revealing the placements again in the final. Considering we vote for this show, I think we deserve to know who came 4th–2nd rather than having them all just listed as runner-up. I think you can probably predict most years, as below
2025
2nd: George, 3rd: Amber
2024
2nd: Sarah, 3rd: JB, 4th: Tasha
2023:
2nd: Layton, 3rd: Bobby
2022:
2nd: Helen, 3rd: Fleur, 4th: Molly
2020:
2nd: HRVY, 3rd: Maisie, 4th: Jamie
2019:
2nd: Emma, 3rd: Karim
2018:
2nd: Joe, 3rd: Faye, 4th: Ashley
2017:
2nd: Debbie, 3rd: Alexandra, 4th: Gemma
2016:
2nd: Danny, 3rd: Louise
2015:
2nd: Kellie, 3rd: Georgia
2014:
2nd: Frankie, 3rd: Simon
2013:
2nd: Susanna, 3rd: Natalie
2012:
2nd: Kimberley, 3rd: Denise
Do you think it was because they actually did want a refresh, or was Davina too expensive for ITV? It seems odd that they wouldn’t have asked her otherwise if she was up for it
Does anyone find it crazy how the Celebrity series has had housemates up to 85 but the civilian series seems to be capped at 60? I hope they give us a few more older housemates this year
I'm interested what predictions you have for this years series whether it be housemates, tasks, theme, etc
Here's some of mine
• Oldest housemate ever, female between 60s and 70s
• Returning celebrity housemates include Kerry Katona and Jedward
• 12 housemates again on launch night, followed by two sets of late entrants
I'm wondering if someone who watched the show back then would know, I saw a clip earlier where Grace was talking about the types of people Nikki “hung out with” on the outside. Did they know each other beforehand?
Did anyone that auditioned this year actually hear back from producers? I know it's a rarity now as everyone seems to be scouted etc but there's an odd few that have got on the normal way / been to auditions.
A real shame they don't seem to give people who actually apply a chance if they’re not an influencer, because I guarantee they’d have a better series if they didn’t just put the influencers on
As a big EastEnders fan, I’m thrilled Lacey is finally doing the show as she's the soap star we’ve been waiting to do it for years. When it comes to a pro I’d really like her with someone who’d let her shine and I think Kai would be best but I’ve not seen many predict them together. Possibly Julian also but since he had Bal last year they may not give him another EastEnders star
I know a lot of people are complaining about the cast (as usual) and I do agree about the male side. But I do think we've got one of the strongest female line-ups we’ve ever had. As someone in my 20’s, these are massive signings to me
Lacey Turner - Definitely the biggest soap star in the United Kingdom and the best actress. As an EastEnders fan, She's known to people who haven’t watched the show for years as she was at the forefront of it then and now (when she’s back of course). I would say she is 100% this year's winner
Delta Goodrem - A very big name in Australia and over her because I knew who she is and I don’t usually outside the UK. Had a stint in Neighbours, a pop career and just did very well in Eurovision. A very good booking
Jaime Winstone - Great actress who has had a long career in television and film. Known to a wide audience
Melanie Walters - In probably the biggest sitcom in the U.K.
Of course there are the usual cast criticisms, and I think some of the other names aren’t as good, however I think these 4 really do make up for it
Lionel Blair is the oldest Big Brother housemate in the WORLD. He was 85 years old when he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother 13, despite people thinking he was three years younger at the time
A fun random fact, but it’s very interesting to see who doesn’t have a Wikipedia page when the series begins, considering they are cast on one of the most popular shows in the UK. They are usually quickly created one when they’re announced but there seems to be more and more each year.
From my memory, here are the contestants who did not have pages upon being announced for the show.
Not really counting the first when Wikipedia hadn’t really taken off. David Dickinson was the only series 1 contestant with one at the time!
Quentin Willson (Series 2; 2004)
Jill Halfpenny (Series 2; 2004)
Diarmuid Gavin (Series 2; 2004)
Jaye Jacobs (Series 3; 2005)
Will Thorp (Series 3; 2005)
James Martin (Series 3; 2005)
Bill Turnbull (Series 3, 2005)
Jo Wood (Series 7; 2009)
Jennifer Gibney (Series 12; 2014)
Vick Hope (Series 16; 2018)
Dr. Ranj Singh (Series 16; 2018)
Saffron Barker (Series 17; 2019)
Jamie Laing (Series 17; 2019)
Rhys Stephenson (Series 19; 2021)
Molly Rainford (Series 20; 2022)
Tyler West (Series 20; 2022)
Nikita Kanda (Series 21; 2023)
Dr. Punam Krishan (Series 22; 2024)
George Clarke (Series 23; 2025)
Lewis Cope (Series 23; 2025)
Chris Appleton (Series 24; 2026)
Cach Mercer (Series 24; 2026)
Lawrence Robb (Series 24; 2026)
John Nellis (Series 24; 2026)
*BETTER PROMOTION
Not having the eye ready for the Love Island final when a crossover of reality TV fans would have been watching is their first big mistake in my opinion. We need the show to be promoted like it was the first series back. Billboards, stickers, beer mats. I had been hopeful when I saw them handing out the cards during the auditions but we need more
*NORMAL PEOPLE
Around 30,000 people apply for the series, yet it seems we're getting more and more scouted influencers every year and housemates who've been in the media before? The majority of fans have made it clear what we want and I guarantee it would be better if they just gave us people who’d applied.
*MORE OVER 40's
Richard winning last year and Caroline being one of the stand out housemates should tell casting that we want to see more older housemates. Farida, in her 50’s was brought back due to fan demand. Give us a woman in her 70’s!
*DARK THEME
We need the return of evil Big Brother, a dark theme, more punishments for discussing nominations. I think they should make what they do for the Halloween week task the theme for whole series. I’d like to see twists and punishments that reduce the prize fund also! (would also save ITV money)
*DIFFERENT TASKS
I think The Perfect Day task, the final one from the last series was probably the best task on the ITV series so far. The housemates constantly having to start again was brilliant to watch and I think they need more like that this year.
Please listen to the fans! What else would you like to see
Does anyone feel like we hardly get any Waltzes these days? I know it’s probably because it’s the slower dance and not as crowd pleasing but I still love to see them as it has that Strictly feel to it.
Give us a few more this year!
PLEASE can we get Tyne-Lexy on the next series of All Stars
As someone who’s watched since the first series, as time goes on there’s less and less chance we’re gonna get cast members from the early series on, and she’s young enough come back.
I was only 15 when I watched series 3 but I remember her having such a short run in there and not the best time, so I feel she deserves redemption. I asked her on one of her business lives if she’d do All Stars and she said she was single and would consider it.
A lot of people have talked about how she was socially awkward / weird but I feel like we embrace islanders with different personalities a lot more nowadays
Give us OG fans some crumbs!
It's being reported by The Sun that ITV will NOT be revealing the new Big Brother eye logo tonight
Does anyone else feel like this is just another case of ITV not prioritising Big Brother? The reveal during the Love Island final was such a good build up and cross promotion and it feels like it’s the beginning off them just slacking massively in promoting it already
I think it’s ridiculous that we have no say in who makes the final. Last year there was a vote before the islanders could decide, meaning we were able to save the Big Three, Shakira, Toni and Yasmin, and Meg and Dejon finally got dumped
Say these islanders hold a grudge and literally dump Julia and Lorenzo who are the favourites?
We’ve really hardly had any say and I think the public interaction is important. Without that it may aswell be Ex on the Beach
No public vote? Does this mean the ex islanders can choose to dump anyone? Or is it between the two remaining vulnerable couples? If they choose Julia and Lorenzo it basically ends the series.
Surely they’ve GOT to dump Mica and Samraj. Four times they’ve been in the bottom now
I hope they do the baby challenge this year. I just think it's a bit of fun amongst everything else and the time that makes you reflect and think “this is the end of the series now”
It’s definitely provided quite a lot of fun moments over the years as well😂
I have enjoyed this series of Love Island to an extent but I’ve got to say nowhere as near as much as last year. For me, until The Big Three last year, it felt like Love Island was on a decline, the same storylines every year and nothing different.
But then these three formed a friendship, all very different and interesting personalities, and the divide against Meg, Helena and whichever bombshell had entered that week was brilliant viewing, and then having them as the final 3 was so satisfying.
Unfortunately I think the girls this year have tried to make sure there was there no divide as they didn’t want to risk being the Meg in the situation.
The ONLY person this series who has actually pushed boundaries and stood on business in my opinion is Julia, and I think her coming in when she did saved the last half of this series.