AJ Odudu reveals major change to Big Brother house days before the launch and it will cause plenty of drama
CELEBRITY Big Brother anchor AJ Odudu has revealed a huge change to the ITV house – which she vows will “heighten drama.”
The presenter, 37, let slip the show tweak after we reported how bosses were moving the TV compound after two years at Garden Studios in Harlesden, West London.
The Sun then exclusively revealed how a fan-favourite feature of the Celebrity Big Brother accommodation had, as a consequence, been ditched for the new series – which kicks off next week.
The Mezzanine floor – which was introduced by ITV when it rebooted Big Brother in 2023 – has been scrapped.
Now, following the re-location to a “secret” space AJ has told how the house is smaller as a result – meaning contestants will be in even closer quarters.
At a CBB media event she said: “There’s always twists and turns with Big Brother.
“The house is in brand new location and it’s got a brand new layout.
“I know the house has been made slightly smaller which might heighten drama.”
Fans were quick to react to her spilling the tea, with one taking to Reddit to write: “Smaller is way better imo.”
A second put: “100%, I loved how it was before but it was a little too big.’
One then joked: “Hope the bit of budget saved went to better celebs!”
An insider previously told The Sun of the compound re-vamp and said: “ITV moving to a new location means the Big Brother house is getting a full revamp – starting from the top down.
“The house layout is returning to a single story, just like when the show was based at Elstree Studios during its time on Channel 4 and C5.
“It’s exciting for fans who love the pre-series build up and ITV are going all out especially with the new studio move.
“There’ll still be plenty of new spaces for housemates to gossip and work on the house is due to begin imminently ahead of the new series.”
Big Brother has been relocated to Titan Studios in West London, a short hop from its former abode.
Who has won Celebrity Big Brother?
THE first Celebrity Big Brother aired in March 2001 on Channel 4.
Roll on 23 years and a switch to Channel 5 in 2011, CBB is now into its 23rd season and is being hosted for the first time by ITV.
Here’s who has won the coveted title so far:
Season 1 (2001): Comedian Jack Dee beat actress Claire Sweeney despite walking out of the house and evading security for about an hour. The series was also more memorable for Vanessa Feltz telling Big Brother to “f*** off” after chalking “incarcerated”, “ambushed” and “restricted” on the table.
Season 2 (2002): Take That favourite Mark Owen triumphed over TV host Les Dennis. The latter won over the sympathy of the audience after his marriage breakdown with his wife Amanda Holden.
Season 3 (2005): Maraca shaking Bez walked out the winner ahead of Blazin’ Squad‘s Kenzie. The Happy Mondays star scooped the £50,000 and went on a 10-hour bender, blowing the cash.
Season 4 (2006): This was the season when Big Brother mixed things up – by sending in a non-celebrity from the fictional band Kandy Floss. However, Chantelle Houghton won over viewers and housemates alike and was crowned the winner. During her time in the house she found love with Ordinary Boys singer Preston. There was also added drama when George Galloway pretended to be Rula Lenska‘s pet cat.
Season 5 (2007): Actress Shilpa Shetty won after being caught up in a racism bullying row with former BB contestant Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd, and S Club‘s Jo O’Meara.
Season 6 (2009): Ulrika Jonsson beat Terry Christian, but controversy came in the form of rapper Coolio who was slammed by viewers as misogynistic, however, he finished in third spot.
Season 7 (2010): Alex Reid beat Dane Bowers and Vinnie Jones with a huge 65% of the vote. Alex married Katie Price one month later.
Season 8 (2011): In the first series to air on Channel 5, Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty was the unexpected winner, beating singer Kerry Katona.
Season 9 (2012): Loose Women star Denise Welch triumphed over X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza, after stripping off while drunk and jumping into the hot tub topless.
Season 10 (2012): Comedian Julian Clary got the nod in the vote over Coleen Nolan.
Season 11 (2013): The X Factor’s Rylan Clark beat couple Heidi Montag
& Spencer Pratt, who was competing as “one entity” and known as Speidi.
Season 12 (2013): Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby beat 5ive singer Abz Love
Season 13 (2014): Jim Davidson won after a blazing row with Linda Nolan. N-dubz Dappy took the second spot.
Season 14 (2014): Gary Busey – who chose to roam around the CBB house naked – beatboxer Audley Harrison.
Season 15 (2015): Katie Price won the battle of the Katies as she saw off controversial Katie Hopkins in the final. The biggest talking point was American blogger Perez Hilton‘s raging row with Calum Best, but the series also saw two early ejections of Jeremy Jackson and Ken Morley.
Season 16 (2015): Apprentice star James Hill beat model Austin Armacost. Tila Tequila was evicted on just the second day after she was found to have posted support for Adolf Hitler on social media.
Season 17 (2016): Geordie Shore’s Scotty T won after sharing a kiss with fellow housemate Tiffany Pollard. Stephanie Davis was runner-up.
Season 18 (2016): Stephen Bear won the show despite a huge row with radio star James Whale. Ricky Norwood placed second but this season saw Christopher Biggins ejected from the house after making an anti-Semitic joke.
Season 19 (2017): Coleen Nolan entered the CBB house for a second time – and this time came out the winner beating Jedward. During her second stint, she had a massive showdown with horse star John McCririck.
Season 20 (2017): It was the battle of the reality show singers in the final, with Popstars: The Rivals winner and Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding beating The X Factor’s Amelia Lily.
Season 21 (2018): Courtney Act, otherwise known as Shane Jenek, won with politician Ann Widdecombe as runner-up.
Season 22 (2018): Winning Dancing On Ice in 2024, was not Ryan Thomas‘s first reality show title. He won the CBB title in 2018, after a shocking “run-in” with Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallet, who falsely accused him of punching her. Actress Kirstie Alley came second.
Titan Studios is a ex-distribution centre with two stages with over 200,000 square foot of production space and is located next to Versa TV Studios.
Bosses will rebuild the live eviction set and garden adjacent to the studio.
The Sun recently reported how Corrie star Jack P Shepherd had signed up to star.
Previously, we told how EastEnders star James Bye had also been lined up.
So far other names linked to the show include former Love Islander Chris Hughes and Towie’s Ella Rae Wise are among the other names rumoured to be going into the house.
A spokesman for ITV previously said: “Any names linked to the Celebrity Big Brother line up are purely speculative.”
Celebrity Big Brother 2025 is set to start on April 7, 2025.