Celebrity Big Brother is back on screens.
The reality show is returning six years after its last broadcast, in the wake of the wildly-successful comeback of the civilian series in November last year and is now set to appear on ITV for the first time ever on Monday night.
After much-anticipation over the cast list, the stars of the show have now been revealed with X Factor legend Louis Walsh at the helm alongside Fern Britton, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, David Potts and Garry Goldsmith.
Monday’s launch also revealed that Sharon Osbourne will be moving into the house as a surprise lodger, after ITV were reportedly unable to match her fee demands.
ITV bosses have reportedly spent a massive £2 million on a number of high-profile stars for the programme, which was was last broadcast on Channel 5 in August 2018.
So who IS starring on the show?
The Celebrity Big Brother 2024 lineup has finally been revealed (L-R David Potts, Fern Britton, Zaza Mills, Levi Roots, Ekin-Su Culculoglu, Sharon Osbourne, Nikita Kuzmin, Louis Walsh, Marisha Wallace, Colson Smith, Bradley Riches, Gary Goldsmith and Lauren Simon)
SHARON OSBOURNE
Sharon Osbourne is moving into the CBB house for a guest stint, after ITV bosses were reportedly unable to meet her fee demands
AGE: 71
FAMOUS FOR: Being a member of the Osbourne family, married to rock legend husband Ozzy as well as being a judge on The X Factor.
While it was originally reported that Sharon has joined the main CBB lineup, it’s since been revealed that she’ll be appearing on the show as a guest star.
It’s thought that ITV bosses were unable to match her fee demands, and so she will be entering the house as a late arrival, for just five days.
Sharon will be reunited with her X Factor co-star Louis Walsh in the house, and it’s hoped their hilarious antics will be a hit with viewers.
Music manager Sharon appeared on the first four series of The X Factor from 2004 to 2007, the 10th series in 2013, and the 13th and 14th series from 2016 to 2017, with Louis starring alongside her.
The pair became known for their bond and amusing interactions during auditions on The X Factor, with a reunion on Celebrity Big Brother being their first on screen in seven years.
LOUIS WALSH
LOUIS WALSH is switching his spot on the X Factor panel for a place in the UK’s most famous house, after a prestigious career as a music manager to bands like Westlife and Boyzone
AGE: 71
FAMOUS FOR: His stint as an X Factor judge following a prestigious career as a music manager to bands like Westlife and Boyzone.
Louis is one of the biggest signings, as fans hope he will spill secrets behind the scenes from The X Factor amid scandal around the defunct competition.
A source previously said: ‘[Louis] is one of the most intriguing signings for Celebrity Big Brother because he has almost half a century of experience in showbusiness to recall when he enters the house.
‘Viewers will be most interested in his memories of his time on The X Factor and working with huge music acts including Westlife and Boyzone.
‘But there may be a few celebrities outside the house who are feeling nervous about what he might say, because Louis is notoriously outspoken.’
GARY GOLDSMITH
Kate Middleton’s uncle GARRY GOLDSMITH, has sparked fears he could ’embarrass’ the Royal Family with his views on Harry and Meghan
AGE: 58
FAMOUS FOR: Being Kate Middleton’s ‘black sheep’ uncle.
Experts have warned Gary could ’embarrass’ the royal family with his views on Harry and Meghan.
The outspoken businessman brother of Kate’s mother Carole, is reported to have inked a meaty deal with bosses for the return of the celebrity edition of the series after a six-year absence.
It comes at a challenging time for the royals as Kate continues to recover from her abdominal surgery at The London Clinic, while King Charles had a procedure for an enlarged prostate before his cancer diagnosis.
Gary attempted to gain a spot on I’m A Celebrity last year, but was turned down over concerns it could embarrass William and Kate.
DAVID POTTS
After shooting to stardom in the Ibiza Weekender, DAVID POTTS will no doubt make a splash in the famous house
AGE: 30
FAMOUS FOR: Ibiza Weekender
David, 30, shot to reality stardom after featuring on Ibiza Weekender as a fun-loving holiday rep and he would no doubt make an entertaining housemate.
The reality personality recently revealed he has lost an incredible three stone and would be in great shape ahead of his arrival in the house.
Sharing his weight loss secrets recently, he said: ‘For everyone wanting to know how I’ve done it.
‘I’m no dietitian or PT, but I try and go to the gym 6 days a week and eat 1700 calories! Then one day I do zero exercise and eat whatever the F I want! It seems to be working for me.’
Following his time on Ibiza Weekender, David has also appeared on The Big Celebrity Detox with other celebs including Kerry Katona.
He has exhausted the reality circuit, also appearing on Celebs Go Dating, Celebs on the Farm, Celebrity Karaoke Club and Celebrity Ghost Trip.
EKIN-SU CULCULOGLU
EKIN-SU CULCULOGLU is moving into the Big Brother house, after splitting from her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti earlier this year
AGE: 29
FAMOUS FOR: Winning Love Island in 2022.
The reality star, 29, who won Love Island with her ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti in 2022, split from the Italian hunk earlier this year.
Media personality Ekin-Su confirmed she had parted ways with Italian businessman Davide, 29, last month.
Taking to her Instagram Story, the former Dancing On Ice contestant wrote: ‘The last 18-months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, just like every relationship.
‘Davide and I both wanted to make this work as we cared deeply for each other. Unfortunately I have recently made the decision to end our relationship and to go our separate ways..
‘Breakups are never easy. For any couple. And we hope that our privacy will be respected. I enjoyed our time together and the memories we made.
‘Thank you for your continued support. It’s been so lovely to have you follow our Love Island journeys together since the villa and we hope you’ll continue to follow our careers as we go off in our own directions. Love always, Ekin-Su.’
ZEZE MILZ
Social media star ZEZE MILLZ will undoubtedly speak her mind if she gets a lot on the show, as her show bio reads: ‘If we can get them in a room with Zeze… It’s gloves off’
AGE: 35
FAMOUS FOR: Social media star
The social media star will undoubtedly speak her mind if she gets a lot on the show, as her show bio reads: ‘If we can get them in a room with Zeze… It’s gloves off.’
Zeze, known for her intense interview style, has her own self-titled show which has featured big names including Akon, N-Dubz and Fireboy DML.
Over the years she has also appeared on Good Morning Britain, Celebrity Cooking School and The Victoria Derbyshire Show.
COLSON SMITH
Coronation Street star COLSON SMITH is the latest soap star to move into the house, with sources tipping him to go ‘all the way’
AGE: 25
FAMOUS FOR: Playing Craig Tinker in Coronation Street
Insiders have already predicted that the soap star will go all the way as he is extremely ‘likeable and down to earth in real life’ just like his Corrie character.
A source told The Sun: ‘Big Brother producers have been in talks with Colson for months and it looks like a done deal.
‘They’re thrilled he’s keen to enter the nation’s most famous house because he’s a big name already loved by millions of viewers and they were hellbent of securing someone from Corrie as it’s great cross-promotion for ITV.
‘Colson’s character Craig is a huge favourite with soap fans and he’s just as likeable and down to earth in real life so don’t be surprised if he ends up winning the whole thing. He’s got all the ingredients of a Celeb BB champion.’
LAUREN SIMON
Real Housewives of Cheshire star LAUREN SIMON will be swapping one TV show for another as she moves into the CBB house
AGE: 47
FAMOUS FOR: Real Housewives Of Cheshire
The reality veteran rose to fame as part of the scripted ITVBe show’s inaugural cast when the show debuted in 2014.
Last year, Lauren spent three weeks in hospital after a botched boob job saw her nipple nearly die.
And Lauren, who split from her ex-husband property tycoon Paul Simon in 2018, recently travelled to a sex retreat where she learnt tantric sex techniques to improve orgasms.
FERN BRITTON
FERN BRITTON became a household name as a longtime host of This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield, but has since hit out at her time on the series
AGE: 66
FAMOUS FOR: Nineties TV sensation, and acting as Phillip Schofield’s This Morning sidekick before being replaced by Holly Willoughby.
She became a household name hosting This Morning alongside Philip, 61, from 1999 to 2009. The pair co-hosted the daytime show together from 2003 until 2009.
It was claimed at the time she felt ‘undervalued by ITV’ and that she was ‘living in Phil’s shadow’.
It was also reported Fern was being paid £250,000 a year less than Phil and that he was earning three times her salary when they were fronting Mr and Mrs together from 2008 to 2010.
Phil is said to have banked £45,000 an hour while Fern earned just £15,000.
However, Fern denied she left ITV because of her salary and upon her departure she mentioned the whole This Morning team rather than just Phillip.
Four years after her departure, Phillip admitted he and Fern no longer spoke.
Last year Fern confirmed that while she had a ‘marvellous’ time working on This Morning, she hasn’t stayed in touch with Phillip.
She said: ‘We were involved in the show and mates at the time, but we don’t really [speak anymore].’
LEVI ROOTS
LEVI ROOTS is one of Dragon’s Den’s biggest success stories, and has been a fixture on cooking TV shows
AGE: 65
FAMOUS FOR: One of Dragons’s Den’s biggest success stories.
Levi, 65, made millions after taking his Reggae Reggae Sauce on the BBC investment show, asking for a £50,000 investment for a 40 percent stake.
In a recent interview with The Sun, Levi said: ‘I couldn’t even say my own first name when I left Jamaica, so to come to the UK and now run a multimillion pound business is beyond belief.’
Following his appearance on the show in 2007, Levi went on to stock his sauce in major supermarket retailers and appear on cooking TV shows.
BRADLEY RICHES
BRADLEY RICHES, best known for his role in Heartstopper, and hopes a stint on the show will help with representation
AGE: 24
FAMOUS FOR: Netflix’s Heartstopper. Bradley, who is gay and autistic, played James McEwan, a potential love interest for the main character Charlie Spring’s friend Isaac.
According to sources, Bradley hopes an appearance on the iconic reality series will help with representation.
A source told The Sun: ‘Brad really wants to fly the flag for autistic, queer people on a huge mainstream show like Celebrity Big Brother.
‘He was diagnosed with autism when he was nine and is passionate about being an advocate for his community. He’s keen to show the world that being neurodiverse isn’t something that holds you back, it’s a superpower.’
NIKITA KUZMIN
NIKITA KUZMIN, best known as a professional on Strictly Come Dancing, has reportedly ired BBC bosses by moving into the CBB house
AGE: 26
FAMOUS FOR: Being a professional on Strictly Come Dancing
The twinkle-toed star joined Strictly as one of four new professionals in 2021 and has been paired with chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Tilly Ramsay, former Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds and actor Layton Williams during his time on the show.
With West End star Layton, Nikita reached the Strictly final for the first time, but missed out on the glitterball trophy to winner Ellie Simmnds.
Since it was first revealed he’d signed up for the show, reports surfaced that Strictly bosses are fearing he could quit the BBC show after his stint in the famous house.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘This will send the rumour mill into overdrive, with some already suggesting he may not return to Strictly and is instead making the most of being a rising star.
‘He’ll have been selected by CBB producers as an obvious heartthrob who can spice things up in the house — and maybe even spill some secrets from behind the scenes of Strictly.’
MARISHA WALLACE
Theatre star MARISHA WALLACE is swapping the stage for the Celebrity Big Brother house, after roles in Broadway adaptations of Aladdin, Something Rotten and Dreamgirls
AGE: 38
FAMOUS FOR: Actress and singer.
Marisha’s showbiz history includes performing in Broadway adaptations of Aladdin, Something Rotten and Dreamgirls.
Marisha has released two albums; Soul Holiday in 2017 and Tomorrow in 2020.
The singer was the recipient of an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress following her performance as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!.
