Celebrity Big Brother made its highly anticipated return on Monday after six years, following on from last year’s revival of the public series.
Last year’s comeback show saw new hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best introduced, and the duo were back for their debut episode of the celebrity edition this year, but some felt the presenters weren't up to the job.
Emma Willis and Rylan Clark were the latest presenters to front the original series back in 2018, and not long into Monday’s instalment, some fans were pleading for them to reprise their roles.
Odudu and Best fronted the show live of Celebrity Big Brother during the launch, introducing the star-studded line up.
As fans tuned in though, plenty of them soon took to social media to complain about the hosts, demanding the return of Willis and Clark.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one person commented: “I love BB/CBB, but this production is atrocious and very amateurish. Bring back Emma and Rylan! These two are not BB #CBBUK.”
Celebrity Big Brother made its comeback on Monday
ITV
Responding, another wrote: “That's what I keep thinking. It's one disaster after another so far.”
“It’s awful and spoils the show,” a third penned as someone else argued: “Needs @Rylan tbh! Thought the same last year, still think the same now after tonight!
“AJ and Will seem to have found their groove on the main show but still don’t seem to be able to get to grips with the side show.. Rylan would’ve handled #CBBLL with ease! #CBB #CBBUK.”
A fourth fumed: “It’s insulting to the show that AJ & Will don’t even recognise various ex housemates when they are in front of them. Even if they won….it makes it even more of a joke that they are hosting over someone like Rylan who has encyclopaedic knowledge & genuine love for it #CBB #CBBUK.”
The presenters divided opinion on Monday
ITV
Another penned: “It feels like a total lack of knowledge about the show from Aj, Will and the production staffs part. It’s so poor #CBBUK #CBB.”
“The interviews going into the house are as awkward AF they need Rylan and Emma. #cbbuk #cbb,” someone else shared.
Others enjoyed seeing the new faces hosting the show though and applauded their work, with one posting: “Can I just say that AJ and Will are EATING this up! It’s like they’ve been hosting Big Brother for years #CBB #CBBUK.” (sic)
Speaking ahead of the new show, Odudu stated: “Myself and Will have been friends for years and yes, we’ve worked on different shows together and it’s like a dream come true getting to go to work with your mate knowing that you’re in a safe pair of hands no matter what.”
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Big Brother fans called for Emma and Rylan to reprise their hosting roles
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Speaking to The Standard, Best added: “I almost think that Big Brother doesn’t need to do as much to bring out extreme reactions from celebs comparatively to the civilians but that doesn’t mean that Big Brother won’t do weird and wonderful things.”
The debut episode saw an array of big names entering the house, including Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Kate Middleton’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith.
Walsh left viewers in hysterics during the launch show after he claimed he knew Osbourne would be entering the house weeks before line-up was revealed.
Speaking to Best and Odudu, he admitted he was “excited to be reunited with Mrs O,” despite the line-up not being revealed until the show.