Celebrity Big Brother is back, with a new roster of famous (and not-so-famous) figures stuck together in the famous Big Brother House.
Among the competitors this year is singer Chesney Hawkes, best known for his track “The One and Only”, who last night (7 April) became the first star to enter the house.
The biggest name to feature is American actor Mickey Rourke, who was first rumoured to be competing on the series last week. Reality star and singer JoJo Siwa and TV host Trisha Goddard are also among this series’ stars.
Rourke has already been the cause of significant controversy, after the 72-year-old star of The Wrestler was deemed to have “grabbed” and “ogled” series presenter AJ Odudu upon first entering the house.
Odudu, whose professionalism was praised after the episode (as were the interventions of co-host Will Best), addressed the incident during the aftershow.
“[His tongue] literally was [hanging out],” she said. “I was like, ‘You can’t afford these feathers, Mickey, no!’”
The latest series of Celebrity Big Brother is the second to have aired since the reality show was rebooted by ITV in 2023.
The series continues at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.
Key Points
- Meet the contestants for Celebrity Big Brother 2025
- Tensions afoot between Danny and Daley
- Mickey Rourke criticised for 'disgusting' behaviour during Monday's episode
- How to watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025
- Celebrity Big Brother: The most controversial moments
22:47
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Louis Chilton
That’s all from me! More Celebrity Big Brother tomorrow, with coverage on The Independent. Sleep well folks! Try and make it to bed, rather than settling for a sofa à la Mr Rourke...
22:32
,
Louis Chilton
Some praise for Mickey, amid yesterday’s widespread condemnation
Mickey Rourke, 72, asking about pronouns to be respectful.
— putasinghonit (@putasinghonit) April 8, 2025
I don’t want to hear any more nonsense about “oh they’re from a different era” anymore #CBBUK
22:15
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Louis Chilton
The memes are flowing, naturally
No one:
— Alex (@alexr_241) April 8, 2025
Mickey Rourke in the prize room:#CBBUK pic.twitter.com/hr01BzTq5B
22:06
,
Louis Chilton
For better or largely worse, Rourke is by far the most noteworthy thing about this series.
This piece from Adam White did a brilliant at job of explaining this moment in a once great career
22:04
,
Louis Chilton
And that’s a wrap on another edifying episode of Celebrity Big Brother! No major drama to speak of.
It’s percolating, let’s say...
21:59
,
Louis Chilton
“Do you prefer Mick or Mickey?”
“I don’t give a s***.”
21:55
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Louis Chilton
Danny in the diary room. Rumblings of tension with Daley.
“I think I’ve tried to make an effort with everybody, but I heard Daley make a comment like ‘well not everything revolves around you’ and, I don’t know if I’m overthinking it… I can sense or I feel like he’s a bit wary of me and that’s fine cause maybe I’m also a little bit wary of him.”
21:45
,
Louis Chilton
TV presenter Chris Hughes the final person to be given a “special power”, in this case, immunity from eviction for the next round.
The first whiff of drama? Who knows!
21:42
,
Louis Chilton
Fabricant joking about converting from Tory to Reform. Then a chat about LGBT+ relationships and polyamory.
21:37
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Louis Chilton
It’s gone 1am, shouldn’t these people be in bed?
21:33
,
Louis Chilton
I thought I’d heard that voice before...
Sorry, can’t get over how much Jojo Siwa sounds like Miley Cyrus #CBBUK
— Jade Chadwick (@JadeSChadwick) April 8, 2025
21:26
,
Louis Chilton
JoJo Siwa the next to receive a “power prize”.
She also gets this bear, which she took while announcing her fandom for the Seth MacFarlane movie Ted.
21:23
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Louis Chilton
“This is not easy here for me.”
Rourke showing his more sympathetic side to Goddard.
She in turn opens up to him a bit about living with stage four cancer.
One of the day’s more recognisably human interactions.
21:18
,
Louis Chilton
To clarify, Rourke has been given the ability to save one housemate from eviction.
As one person observed on X/Twitter: “I don’t know If Mickey knows where he is bless him”
21:15
,
Louis Chilton
Mickey Rourke being given a “special power” in the gift room.
What was he up to in there? “Making strange decisions,” he tells his fellow housemates.
21:10
,
Louis Chilton
Anyone else think Fabricant has the vague vibe of a latter-day Harry Enfield character?
21:09
,
Louis Chilton
Rourke being shown round the big prize room.
“It’s colourful.”
It sure is.
21:07
,
Louis Chilton
Chesney giving some much-needed contest about the fellow contestants to Mickey Rourke. Seems like a nice guy!
21:05
,
Louis Chilton
And they’re off! Mickey Rourke is making a hash of pouring milk. Television!
20:46
,
Louis Chilton
Less than 15 minutes to go now!
Is anyone out there rooting for Michael Fabricant? Stranger things have happened... maybe.
Here he is, with that barnet of his...
20:30
,
Louis Chilton
Whoever wins will become part of a long lineage of Celebrity Big Brother winners. Here’s what became of the previous champs:
20:10
Who will win this year’s competition? My money’s on a rogue choice: Jojo Siwa, the young influencer whose ungodly dance moves turned her into a somewhat ironic cult figure over the past couple of years. Will she bust out the famous moves in the CBB house? We can only pray.
19:23
,
Louis Chilton
This whole Mickey Rourke malarky may come as no surprise to those of you who have watched Big Brother before, or indeed to anyone who may have picked up a newspaper between the years 2001 and 2018.
Here’s a look at some of the series’ past scandals:
19:10
,
Louis Chilton
I’m reliably informed that tonight’s episode will feature:
- Something called a “big prize room”
- A heart to heart between Danny Beard and Michael Fabricant
- Mickey Rourke and Trisha Goddard “getting to know each other” (that’s not a euphemism, that’s just what the press release says)
Only two hours to go!
18:40
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Louis Chilton
Odudu responded to the incident with Rourke briefly during an interview with the aftershow series Late & Live.
Viewers have roundly praised the presenter for her handling of the moment, while others have called for Rourke’s exit from the show.
Read more here:
17:36
,
Louis Chilton
Good evening and welcome back to another Celebrity Big Brother Live blog. I have a bunch of things to flag before the launch tonight, but let’s kick off with a recap of what happened last night. Aka, Katie Rosseinsky’s absolutely damning review:
17:54
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Louis Chilton
Mickey Rourke’s entrance to the CBB house is undoubtedly what has got people talking so far... and for all the wrong reasons.
Read more:
