Among the loyal viewers of Celebrity Big Brother, there is growing unease about the potential departures of Patsy Palmer and Mickey Rourke. These concerns have arisen in light of recent events that hint towards Mickey, aged 67, longing for home amidst the initial chaos within the house. On the other hand, 52-year-old Patsy, a beloved EastEnders star, has also dropped alarm bells by hinting at a probable exit at the first sight of strife.
When interviewed by Mirror, Patsy Palmer clarified her aversion to conflict, a trait quite unlike her fiery on-screen character, Bianca. While she is aware of the public perception associating her with her character’s feistiness, she admitted to her profound disdain for personal conflict. This statement stoked anticipations of a possible early departure on her part.
Meanwhile, controversy marred the debut episode of this season’s Celebrity Big Brother. Several viewers lodged complaints with Ofcom pertaining to alleged misconduct from Mickey Rourke. In the backdrop of these allegations, the show’s launch was reported to attract a mere 1.8 million viewers, the lowest premiere viewer count in the show’s history.
The public and press alike have expressed mixed to negative opinions about the show. Reportedly, media responses swung from indifference to severe criticism, with the Independent symbolically suggesting that the ‘gloomy spectacle’ be ‘laid to rest’, and the Telegraph illustrating Mickey Rourke’s introductory appearance as a ‘disorderly disaster’.
Former MP Michael Fabricant, who partook in the Celebrity Big Brother launch event, was greeted by an audible round of disapproval. During his introductory speech, he disclosed to the audience his bisexuality and reiterated the authenticity of his hairstyle, which he supported with receipts as proof.
Michael Fabricant, the erstwhile Conservative MP, had held the position in Staffordshire since 1997 before being defeated by Labour’s Dave Robertson. Robertson won over Fabricant in the most recent General Election with a slim margin of just over 800 votes. Fabricant’s arrival at Celebrity Big Brother did not sit well with the audience, manifesting in the form of boos.
Mickey Rourke, the talented Hollywood actor, was subjected to unsavoury labels by observers after he was observed making inappropriate remarks towards host AJ Odudu. The spectators demanded that the Academy Award nominee was evicted post-haste, following the alleged unsuitable conduct.
In spite of all these controversies, a different narrative seems to be emerging on social platforms. Hollywood’s Mickly Rourke appears to have won over a significant part of the digital audience, as evidenced by their reactions on social media platforms.
Jack P. Shepherd, a participant in the current edition of Celebrity Big Brother, has garnered positive responses for his restrained wit and low-key sarcasm. These qualities were on full display during his entry video. In spite of his professional experience spent mostly in front of cameras, Shepherd displayed a distaste for both attention seekers and overt on-camera posturing.
Michael Fabricant’s second stint in the limelight during the Celebrity Big Brother launch was poorly received, drawing further disapproval from the audience. In his video, he shed some light on the speculations about his hairstyle and sexual orientation. The former MP also acknowledged that his traits could stir more unrest in the house.
Danny Beard, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, is already hailed as a potential victor due to viewers’ predictions. The renowned drag queen caught the fancy of CBB 2025 fans, who are now eyeing him as the likely champion of the current season.
The crowd’s reaction towards ex-Tory MP Michael Fabricant was starkly negative, though he claimed to be ‘socially liberal’. Danny Beard, the drag queen, has already predicted that potential clashes could occur within the house between him and Fabricant.
Chesney Hawkes successfully navigated through the initial Super Secret Very Hush Hush game show challenge in Big Brother. However, it seems he was already strategising about nominations before setting foot in the house.
Hawkes expressed an intention to form strong bonds with his fellow contestants, with a hope that such relationships could safeguard him from nominations. His strategy involved making himself indispensable to his housemates, banking on their affection to preserve his position in the game.
Following his strategy, Hawkes proclaimed, ‘The plan is to create such strong friendships with everyone in the house that they will fall in love with me and be reluctant to nominate me.’ Should his approach succeed, Hawkes may find himself well-protected in the house.