Real reason behind Celebrity Big Brother star’s huge u-turn after telling pals she’d ‘never do the show’
THE real reason behind a Celebrity star’s huge u-turn to sign up for the show has been revealed, after telling pals she’d ‘never do it.’
Comedian Donna Preston is one of the names to have signed up for Celebrity Big Brother.
The 38-year-old will be bringing the laughs to the famous house after winning over ITV bosses.
Donna is probably best known for working with the channel on hit comedy panel show Hey!Tracey! alongside Joel Dommett and Apocalypse Wow.
But the news that Donna has signed up for CBB has really taken her friends by surprise – as she’s always said she would never enter Britain’s most famous house.
A pal told The Sun: “I was really shocked by Donna’s u-turn. While she has been a regular guest on Late and Live, she has always said she wouldn’t be able to be a housemate as she would feel too exposed being in there.
“She obviously had a change of heart when she was offered the money and couldn’t turn down the pay day, but this is definitely out of her comfort zone. It’s hard for comedians to be ‘on’ 24/7.”
As well as her various telly roles, Donna has starred alongside Sacha Baron Cohen in Grimsby and has had roles in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Hitman’s Bodyguard.
An insider said: “Donna is one of the funniest stars around and will be a huge asset to the house.
“She’s worked with ITV on a number of occasions, so they know exactly what she will bring to the table.
“She’s also a huge fan of Big Brother and regularly appeared on Late and Live last year.”
Donna will be joining Patsy Palmer and politician Michael Fabricant, actor Jack P Shepherd and 80s pop star Chesney Hawkes in the spy house next Monday when the series begins, as well as many more names.
It comes as CBB host AJ Odudu pledged to get into shape for the latest series of the reality show.
Last year AJ, 37, appeared on screen in a range of colourful latex catsuits.
But publicity pictures for the upcoming ITV series see her in a long black dress, split up the thigh.
Celebrity Big Brother 2025 line-up
Celebrity Big Brother is back for a brand new series, with a whole host of stars set to live it up in the famous compound.
Here’s the FULL line-up of star housemates:
Trisha Goddard – Talk show host
Mickey Rourke – Hollywood actor
Donna Preston – comedian and TV star
JoJo Siwa – influencer and singer
Chris Hughes – Love Island hunk
Jack P. Shepherd – Coronation Street star
Patsy Palmer – EastEnders legend
Daley Thompson – Olympic athlete
Chesney Hawkes – 90s singer
Ella Rae Wise – Towie star
Michael Fabricant – former Tory politician
Angellica Bell – former CBBC presenter
Danny Beard – Drag queen and Britain’s Got Talent
AJ admitted: “It’s so funny because me and Will were like, ‘We’re going to be so fit for Celebrity Big Brother.
“Let’s do a Big Brother workout program’.
“We’re going five times a day. We’re doing weights.
“We’re doing Pilates. We’re doing meal preps.
“We’ve got catsuits to get into — it’s shred time.”
Will, 40, added: “We’ve not started.
“We were together last week and the evening started with that chat and ended with beers.”
They are also keen to find a post-show drinking den after the production moved to a different studio in West London.
AJ said: “That’s the most important thing, that we can have drinks after.”