EastEnders icon Patsy Palmer is the latest star tipped to take part in ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother after recently wrapping her scenes on the BBC soap – leaving her clear to join the reality show next month
Patsy Palmer is the latest star rumoured to be signed up to take part in the 2025 season of ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother – which is set to commence next month. The 52-year-old actress is best known for playing Bianca Jackson on the iconic BBC soap EastEnders – a role that she has held down since 1993.
But the star has been known to dip her toe into the world of reality and factual entertainment – thrilling fans in 2020 when she took part in the first season of the UK’s version of The Masked Singer. But now it seems the singer could be preparing to take on a whole new form of TV, by immersing herself in reality as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.
ITV revived the iconic show last year – with viewers watching as the likes of music manager Louis Walsh, daytime TV show legend Fern Britton, and Coronation Street star Colson Smith battled to be crowned the winner of the series. And the 2025 season is expected to begin airing in just a few days time – with Monday 7 April set as the date the show is expected to begin airing.
While an official line-up has not yet been revealed, a string of well known names have been linked to the upcoming new season – which will be the 24th series of the long-running show. And Patsy is just one of the stars that is said to be close to signing an agreement to take part.
The Daily Mail has reported: “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.” The Mirror has contacted a representative of Patsy, while a spokesperson for Celebrity Big Brother said, “Any names suggested for Celebrity Big Brother are purely speculation.”
News of Patsy’s rumoured casting for the show come days after she wrapped filming her final scenes on EastEnders as she has quit the long-running soap for fourth time. Bianca first arrived on the square in 1993 and left in 1999, only to return in 2008 where she remained on the show until 2014.
The star returned briefly in 2019, before returning to the cast in 2024 – but she is expected to bow out again later this year, and is reported as having already completed her scenes. The door is wide open, therefore, for Patsy to walk into the Big Brother house next month as a contestant free from soap filming commitments.
Nineties pop icon Chesney Hawkes is another big name tipped to take part in the new season – with reports suggesting the 53-year-old wants to feature on the show ahead of a big music comeback. 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.”
Blonde bombshell politician Sir Michael Fabricant, Coronation Street actor Jack P. Shepherd and British Olympic legend Daley Thompson are other stars tipped to be taking part. The show will return next month with AJ Odudu and Will Best returning to host.
A report by the MailOnline earlier this month suggested that Michael Fabricant’s inclusion could lead to explosive scenes. A source told the outlet: “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.”
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