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How Celebrity Big Brother plans to manage controversial contestants including Mickey Rourke has been revealed – after he burst onto screens on Monday night’s launch show.
ITV viewers slammed the Hollywood star’s ‘creepy behaviour’ within minutes of his arrival when he was seen leering at the show’s host AJ Odudu.
After being introduced to AJ by her co-host Will Best, Mickey approached her on stage, grabbing her around the waist and spinning her in a circle.
A shocked AJ gasped as Mickey then pulled her in close, exclaiming: ‘You’re very flirtatious,’ as the US star continued to hold onto her waist.
The presenter looked more and more uncomfortable but kept her professional composure as she told the actor to ‘stop looking at me’. She then turned him around by his shoulders and directed him to the door, with the actor heard saying: ‘No, I want to stay with you.’
It was at this point that AJ’s co-host Will Best stepped in, pulling AJ back from Mickey who had grabbed her by the arm. ‘Don’t take AJ with you!’ he shouted after the actor.
How Celebrity Big Brother plans to manage controversial contestants including Mickey Rourke has been revealed – after he burst onto screens on Monday night’s launch show
ITV viewers slammed the Holly wood star’s ‘creepy behaviour’ within minutes of his arrival when he was seen leering at the show’s host AJ Odudu
Now an ITV spokesperson has told MailOnline of how they plan to manage big characters in the house: ‘All of the my house mates have a conversation in advance about expected language and behaviour.
‘They do things like daily meetings to discuss welfare matters as well.’
Viewers shared their shock at the interaction after the episode aired with Will Njobvu on TikTok blasting Mickey as ‘disrespectful’ whilst lukeelkinstv captioned a clip with the words: ‘disgusting get him out’.
Others such as @Sophsingsandthings posted their real-time reactions to the star’s entrance.
The TikToker said that after a positive first impression, she decided he was ‘cringey and creepy’.
Fans also took to X to say: ‘Scared for all the women in that house now with how Mickey was with AJ on live television mind you.’
‘I needed a scandal this season and i believe mickey rourke will provide it.’
‘Oh dear. Not a fan of Mickey already after that entrance.’
‘Everyone’s joking about Mickey Rourke and I get why, but I want to be serious for a second.
Now an ITV spokesperson has told MailOnline of how they plan to manage big characters in the house: ‘All of the my house mates have a conversation in advance about expected language and behaviour…’
After being introduced to AJ by her co-host Will Best, Mickey approached her on stage, grabbing her around the waist and spinning her in a circle – before they had to manoeuvre him to the door
‘No female TV presenter should be made to feel like AJ just did. He shouldn’t have been allowed on this show if he can’t control himself around women. I hated that ngl.’
‘There’s surely no way Mickey Rourke doesn’t either walk or get booted out for being inappropriate.’
Body language expert Judi James has warned Mickey’s ‘trait of taking control’ could land him in further trouble in the house.
‘His trait of taking control came during two key moments: one when he just got up to pick himself for the prize room rather than waiting for a group decision (no team player there!)
‘And then there was the controlling twirling and torso-bumping of our AJ and the long glances of admiration that might not have sat well with a modern audience,’ Judi explained to Paddy Power Games.
‘Has anyone ever needed to be physically pushed into the House before?
‘The way Rourke stood there telling AJ “I want to stay with you” as she was trying to load him in through the door was a less than impressive act of control.’
Viewers shared their shock at the interaction with Will Njobvu on TikTok blasting Mickey as ‘disrespectful’ whilst lukeelkinstv captioned a clip with the words: ‘disgusting get him out’
She also suggested a ‘vulnerable’ side to the star though, explaining: ‘Mickey is yet another Hollywood legend who claims to have never seen the show and his acts of bewilderment like asking security to direct him to the stage suggest vulnerability.’
Alan Carr led the outraged reaction to Mickey on spin-off show Late and Live, asking AJ: ‘Can we talk about Mickey Rourke looking at you? Wow his eyes.
‘Find someone who looks at you the way Mickey looks at you [AJ]. His tongue was hanging out.’
AJ quipped back: ‘It literally was. I was like “You can’t afford these feathers Mickey, no!”‘
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER 2025: MEET THE LINEUP!
MICKEY ROURKE
AGE: 72
FAMOUS FOR: The actor and former pro boxer is one of the show’s biggest ever signings and after public feuds with Robert De Niro, two marriages and a string of high profile relationships, producers will be hoping he brings plenty of drama.
DALEY THOMPSON
AGE: 66
FAMOUS FOR: The double Olympic gold-medallist is considered one of Britain’s greatest athletes, and he would no doubt cause a stir with younger celebrities if he entered the house. He broke the decathlon world record four times.
PATSY PALMER
AGE: 52
FAMOUS FOR: It’s an open secret that Patsy is leaving EastEnders, with the actress enjoying a wild leaving party this month. The Bianca Jackson star posted a snap of her character on Instagram with the caption: ‘Bye bye B, always grateful to see her again.’
DONNA PRESTON
AGE: 38
FAMOUS FOR: While Donna has featured in several TV shows and movies, the comedy star is known for hosting Apocalypse and for the role of a circus Compere in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. She plays Den in Coronation Street, has featured in Pants On Fire in 2019 and even wrote and co-produced BBC Three’s Comedy Threesomes.
CHESNEY HAWKES
AGE: 53
FAMOUS FOR: The singer topped the charts for five weeks in 1991 with his hit The One And Only, before making a string of acting and TV appearances. His arrival on CBB has been described by a TV source as ‘perfect timing’, as he’s set to release a comeback album in April.
ANGELLICA BELL
AGE: 49
FAMOUS FOR: The TV presenter is said to have landed a staggering five-figure deal to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Fans will be keen to see if the CBBC legend spills all on her untimely exit from The Martin Lewis Show – which left fans baffled back in 2023. Angellica currently co-presents Hits Radio while Fleur East is on maternity leave.
DANNY BEARD
AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner – whose real name is Daniel Curtis – has signed up as a late entry. Danny previously made headlines after swearing on Big Brother’s Late & Live last March whilst doing an impression of housemate Louis Walsh. The incident saw the guest say the word ‘c***’ before immediately apologising after being informed they weren’t allowed to say that on the show.
CHRIS HUGHES
AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: After shooting to fame on Love Island in 2017, Chris went on to become a sports presenter and regularly hosts the horse racing coverage on ITV.
JOJO SIWA
AGE: 21
FAMOUS FOR: The American singer, who shot to stardom on reality show Dance Moms, is expected to draw a big American audience. The hitmaker has made a name for herself in the U.S. pop charts and is known for her outlandish looks and being a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community.
TRISHA GODDARD
AGE: 67
FAMOUS FOR: The talk show host regularly presented on ITV from 1998 to 2004 and then shifted to Channel 5 from 2004 to 2010. Trisha has been suffering horrible side effects of her chemotherapy – but has bravely battled on.
JACK P. SHEPHERD
AGE: 37
FAMOUS FOR: The actor has played David Platt in Corrie since 2000 and is following in his pal Colson Smith’s footsteps by taking part in the popular reality show. He has won a string of awards for the role including Best Actor at the British Soap Awards.
ELLA RAE WISE
AGE: 24
FAMOUS FOR: Producers have been keen to land the TV personality, who previously dated Pete Wicks and has had an on-off romance with Dan Edgar. Bosses are hoping the TOWIE star might reveal all about some of her other famous exes.
MICHAEL FABRICANT
AGE: 74
FAMOUS FOR: The former Conservative politician is understood to have signed a lucrative six-figure deal to take part after political stars were banned from the broadcaster’s other reality show, I’m A Celeb. He served as MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire from 1992 until his defeat in 2024 as well as vice-chairman of the party under David Cameron. But he is perhaps best known for his blond mop for which he has been widely ridiculed but repeatedly denies is a wig.
