Celebrity Big Brother 21 has started and the promised landmark show has materialised. For the first time in CBB history, the reality series will initially only involve only female participants, celebrating 100 years of women’s right to vote. However, it has been revealed that male contestants will be introduced into the house in a few day’s time – the show has to have mixed occupancy to create a spark.
To be honest, looking back at the number of well-known faces who have left us in the last two years, producers must have been struggling to form a short-list. But we’ve got surprisingly high-brow housemates this time with respected journalist Rachel Johnson the first to let slip that she was taking part. She is the daughter of Stanley, I’m A Celebrity contestant at the end of last year, and, of course, brother to Boris. The foreign secretary makes so many slip-ups that he would have been a natural for Dancing On Ice to complete the set!
Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe is making the rounds of these reality TV shows and adds CBB (maybe they should have named it Celebrity Big Sister this year) to her portfolio having already taken part in Strictly and the largely unwatched Sugar Free Farm. Veteran Carry On and Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie is also in the house and so is Maggie Oliver, the policewoman integral to the exposure of the Rochdale paedophile ring.
India Willoughby, the transgender news reporter, and Kardashians’ confidante Malika Haqq should add spice to the mix before the men come in and mess up the place. Former Liverpool and England winger John Barnes is a strong rumour to be one male who has signed up.
It’s all a far cry from the first Celebrity Big Brother, won by a reluctant Jack Dee who gained more votes by trying to escape than those who stayed put and involved themselves in the customary silly games. Nowadays, most folk only watch BB to see the squabbles – is that a sad reflection of modern society? Let’s hope we can have some intellectual arguments this time. Emma Willis and Rylan Clark-Neal will share presenting duties.
Given the theme of strong women this year, it’s almost unthinkable that a man will win, whatever their credentials, and Maggie Oliver is 3/1 favourite with several firms including Betway. India Willoughby is next best at a general 8/1 followed by Amanda Barrie at 12/1.
Celebrity Big Brother 21 Current Best Odds
Maggie Oliver 3/1, India Willougby 8/1, Amanda Barrie and John Barnes 12/1, Rachel Johnson 14/1, Jess Impiazzi 16/1, Ann Widdecombe 18/1, Ashley James 20/1, Mikka Haqq 25/1
