BIG Brother has flung open its doors and welcomed in the class of 2025 with 12 brand new housemates.
It is the youngest cast EVER on the ITV2 reality series with just two of the 12 housemates over the age of 27.
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Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best checked the brave bunch into the spy house ahead of an extended seven-week series.
But what the fresh-faced troop lacks in years, they more than make up for in experience with a string of controversy, drama and stories behind them.
Leading the charge is political events manager Emily Hewertson, who shot to fame last June when she was falsely accused of flinging a milkshake over Nigel Farage in Clacton-on-Sea.
She will be joined in the house by controversial online star Elsa Rae – who has over 200k followers online thanks to her on/off relationship with fellow content creator and bad boy boxer Ed Matthews, who is known for “feuds” with other creators.
But they are just two of the impressive line-up. Let’s take a look at this year’s crop of housemates in closer detail…
Elsa-Rae, 21
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21-year-old content creator Elsa Rae is no stranger to the screen as the ex-girlfriend of controversial internet personality, Ed Matthews.
Elsa regularly appeared alongside the best pal of HSTikkyTokky in his TikTok videos and livestreams which often captured the couple as they went about their day.
She has also built up a following in her own right with over 125,000 fans on both TikTok and Instagram.
Now she is hoping to step out from Ed’s shadow with a stay in the Big Brother house.
Elsa has revealed that she recently became religious following her controversial online antics and is hoping to show fans her new “spiritual side” in the house.
Emily, 25
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Emily Hewertson is another one of this year’s crop of housemates who has already clinched a claim to fame.
The internet personality, who boasts over 160,000 followers on X, was caught in a social media storm when she was falsely accused for throwing a milkshake at Reform leader, Nigel Farage.
Emily came under fire when some mistakenly believed she was the girl who threw the drink at the politician back in 2024 before it was confirmed to be Victoria Thomas-Bowen.
A political event manager from Northampton, Emily has become well-known for making her political opinion known online and has been labelled a new generation political influencer.
Her carefree attitude is likely to come in handy once she gets inside the infamous house.
Admitting she “lives for the plot”, her stint in Big Brother is just another “crazy chapter in [her] very crazy life”.
Tate, 27
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Business owner Tate, from Falkirk, is preparing to become the eye candy of the house thanks to his history of stripping off.
The lad has worked as a private hire butler-in-the-buff for many years.
He also thinks this will help him when it comes to charming his fellow housemates and keeping them all entertained.
Tate said: “Being part of the ‘buff butler’ stuff, you naturally fall into the role of an entertainer, getting folks chatting and mingling and maybe playing a couple daft games.
Zelah, 25
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Personal trainer and transgender social media influencer Zelah Glasson has already built up an impressive following online as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and is the third of this year’s cast to have already enjoyed a brush with internet fame.
Boasting over 85,000 followers on his TikTok account, Zelah has become known for his workout videos and fitness routines which are often catered to other trans individuals.
He has been very open about his transition journey in a bid to help others and previously discussed his surgery journey with Cult Beauty, saying: “[I had] a bilateral mastectomy with a free nipple graft — this involved removing the breast tissue through two incisions in my chest, then removing the nipples and re-shaping them before they were re-attached to my chest.”
Speaking about how he would spend the money if he proved triumphant in the Big Brother house, Zelah confessed: “I’ve had a few thoughts about this – I think the biggest thing would be that I’d contribute towards my business – training LGBT people and women.
“On a smaller note, I’d like to take my girlfriend on a really lovely holiday to say sorry for leaving her while I’m in the Big Brother House.”
“It depends what everyone else is like. I’m very versatile – I can have quite deep and intellectual conversations, and I can also be a bit daft.”
Teja, 18
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At just 18 years old, Teja is this year’s youngest housemate to be unleashed into Britain’s most famous abode.
She currently works as a cleaner and admits she is desperate to win purely for the cash prize at the end.
Having saved for a house deposit since she was 11 years old, Teja is hoping that winning the show could provide a much-needed cash injection.
She is also a budding actress having appeared in a number of local stage and theatre productions.
Sam, 27
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Sam is a 27-year-old Zumba instructor from Bradford but he’s also a popstar in the works.
He has released a number of tracks under the stage name, Smashby, a nickname he got given to him by his PE teacher whom he had a crush on in school.
Confessing how he would spend the cash if he was to follow in the footsteps of previous winners Ali Bromley and Jordan Sangha, Sam said: “I would go to Disneyland on holiday.
“I would get myself a gorgeous apartment and a fluffy cat.”
Cameron, 22
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22-year-old Cameron is one of the country’s newest generation of farmers.
He has been fundamental in having his voice heard and has joined protests against Labour’s inheritance tax changes for agricultural land.
Cameron was one of many young farmers who took part in the farming protests in London earlier this year.
Sharing what he thinks will make him stand-out in the house, Cameron said: “I think I’ll be quite different than the Housemates as I suspect there isn’t another sort of country bumpkin-esque figure and I’m quite looking forward to meeting new people.
“I think I’ll hopefully bring a bit of leadership to the house.”
Caroline, 56
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56-year-old Caroline is this year’s oldest housemate but she’s another one of this year’s chosen few to have already brushed shoulders with a few celebrities or two.
Before moving to Yorkshire, she worked as a Celebrity PR in London and still has her own business, Monkey Business VIP, to this day.
Some of the stars she has worked alongside include Roger Taylor, Take That and David Hasselhoff.
Revealing why she felt know was the time for Big Brother, Caroline said: “I left my job to set up my own company and, in Yorkshire, there’s not that many celebrities, so I haven’t had much luck because I don’t live in London anymore.
“So, I went to the job centre and the woman looked at my CV and said, ‘You should do something on the telly. You should write a book. You should go on social media, do videos. You’re too good to sit in an office, you’ve got too much going for you’.
“I laughed it off but I went home and saw the advertisement for Big Brother. So, I just did the video and never thought anything of it. I went back to thinking, ‘what am I going to do in my life?’. And then I got the phone call, and it just went from there and now we’re here.”
Gani, 39
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Gani is one of only two housemates who are over the age of 27 on this year’s series.
The pizza shop manager has revealed that he dreams of stardom and has even attempted to pursue an acting career in the past.
He once had a profile on a casting call website and has made no secret of the fact that he hopes a Big Brother stint could bring him stardom.
Gani revealed ahead of entering the house: “I’d like to be known by millions.
“I see this as an opportunity not only for my personal growth, but also to help build the future of my personal brand.”
Jenny, 20
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20-year-old blonde bombshell Jenny is a make-up artist from Derry who has confessed she is entering the house purely for a good time.
But she has already revealed what she thinks could see her booted from the house early doors.
Revealing she is honest and does not hold back with her opinions, Jenny fears this could be the reason her housemates choose to boot her from the house.
She said: “I think I’m most likely to be nominated for being too honest. Because if you ask for my opinion, you’re going to get it.”
Marcus, 22
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A mechanical engineer from Manchester, Marcus could find himself as one of the lads turning heads inside the famous house this year.
He describes himself as “energetic, over-the-top and loud” but acknowledges this may not work in his favour inside the house.
Revealing what he is most looking forward too in the house, Marcus confessed: “I’m looking forward to just being thrown in the mixing bowl of a group of people who I don’t know and watching all their personalities unfold. I’m buzzing.”
Nancy, 22
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A recent university graduate from Glasgow, Nancy is gearing up to enjoy her next few weeks cut off from the outside world.
She revealed she found herself feeling “lost” with life and has decided to grab the opportunity to become a housemate with both hands
Nancy said ahead of entering the house: “I don’t want to sound too cliché but I was feeling very lost in my life because I had just graduated from university.
“I’m looking forward to discovering myself even more and seeing how I can connect with people that are different to me.
“And just seeing who I am as a person and finding out more about myself, connecting with others and making friends.”
Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
