Patsy Palmer, best known for her role as Bianca Jackson in EastEnders, is rumoured to be joining the 2025 season of ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother.
The 52-year old-actress, who has been a staple on the BBC soap since 1993, could be swapping Albert Square for the Big Brother house next month, according to reports.
The star isn’t a stranger to reality TV, having delighted fans in 2020 when she appeared on the UK’s version of The Masked Singer.
Now, it seems Patsy might be ready to dive back into the reality TV world by becoming a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.
ITV brought back the iconic show last year, with viewers tuning in to see celebs like music manager Louis Walsh, daytime TV queen Fern Britton and Coronation Street’s Colson Smith compete for the title.
The 2025 season is set to kick off soon, with Monday, April 7 marked as the start date.
While the official line-up hasn’t been announced yet, several big names have been linked to the upcoming season – the 24th series of the long-standing show. And it seems Patsy could be close to signing on the dotted line to join the cast.
The Daily Mail has spilled the beans: “Patsy Palmer is set to join Celebrity Big Brother when the new series begins next month… [She] is in final talks with show bosses to enter the famous abode.”, reports the Mirror.
Meanwhile, The Mirror is on the case, having reached out to Patsy’s rep for the inside scoop. Over at Celebrity Big Brother HQ, they’re keeping cards close to their chest, stating, “Any names suggested for Celebrity Big Brother are purely speculation.”
Hot off the press, Patsy’s potential pivot to reality TV follows her recent adieu to EastEnders, marking her fourth exit from the iconic soap.
Bianca, played by Patsy since 1993, has been a fan favourite, with stints from 1993-1999, a comeback in 2008-2014, a brief appearance in 2019, and her latest run starting in 2024.
With her final scenes already in the can, Patsy could be swapping Albert Square for the Big Brother house as early as next month.
90s heartthrob Chesney Hawkes is also rumoured to be eyeing up a spot in the Celebrity Big Brother lineup. At 53, he’s reportedly keen to jump back into the limelight ahead of a major music revival.
A source told The Sun: “Chesney Hawkes is one of those rare British celebrities who crosses generational divides.
“Everyone knows The One and Only even if the youngsters might not recognise his name. He’s also had decades in showbiz so CBB bosses hope he’ll be loose-lipped about celebrity encounters over the years, just like Louis Walsh last year.”
Joining him on the star-studded line-up are reportedly Coronation Street’s Jack P. Shepherd, Olympic legend Daley Thompson and politician Sir Michael Fabricant.
According to a MailOnline report earlier this month, insiders suggest that Sir Michael’s participation could lead to some fiery moments. A source revealed: “He doesn’t hold back, he’s going to be compulsive viewing, we can’t wait.
“We wanted a top politician but one with enormous personality which would entertain the viewers.
“He recently lost his seat so was available, already the execs are excited that he will be a star of the series.
“Michael is not only instantly recognisable but also is so likely to say the wrong thing, start some debates and really ramp things up in the house.”