The Big Brother finalists have missed a lot of news from the oustide3 in the past six weeks (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother)
Big Brother 2023 is coming to an end on Friday, and we are not ready.
It’s hard to believe that six weeks ago the name Yinrun meant nothing to us, and the phrase Jenry even less so.
On the other hand, it’s hard to believe all the major news and entertainment stories we’ve been reeling from on the outside – and the Big Brother finalists still have no idea happened.
Big Brother 2023 kicked off on October 8, and it has been an utterly wild six weeks, both inside and outside the house.
From genuinely heart-breaking deaths to bombshell memoirs, to the revolving door of politics – here are some of the biggest news stories the Big Brother housemates are still oblivious to.
Britney Spears’ bombshell memoir and all of its consequences
Britney Spears’ bombshell memoir was released two weeks after the Big Brother contestants entered the house (Picture: AP)
Britney Spears’ memoir The Woman In Me was released worldwide on October 24, two full weeks after the housemates entered Big Brother.
In it, Britney shared previously unknown aspects of her life, including her relationship with Justin Timberlake, her difficult decision to have an abortion, and how she felt vilified by his Cry Me A River music video after their split.
When the Big Brother finalists entered the house, nostalgic millennials were buzzing over the first NSYNC song in 20 years – now, to Britney fans, Justin is public enemy number one.
Matthew Perry’s death
Matthew Perry died tragically weeks into the new series of Big Brother, with the news of the beloved actor’s death sure to shock the housemates (Picture: Getty)
The late Matthew Perry died on October 28, three weeks after the Big Brother housemates were locked into the social experiment.
Friends fans have been in mourning since, as have Perry’s friends and former colleagues, with the cast of the beloved sitcom sharing their grief and happy memories with the star.
At the time of writing an exact cause of death for Perry has not yet been confirmed, however he is understood to have drowned in his hot tub at home.
Yinrun in particular is said to be a massive Friends fan, with Chandler Bing her favourite character, and her boyfriend Luke said she would be devastated by the news.
Suella Braverman is sacked and David Cameron is back
It’s Groundhog Day all over again as David Cameron is back and Suella Braverman has been sacked (again) (Picture: EPA)
After a series of comments that drove backlash from the public and a headache for the government, culminating in the Home Secretary being accused of undermining the police as she slammed a protest calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Suella Braverman was sacked, this time by Rishi Sunak after being sacked by Liz Truss this time last year.
And if you already had the feeling of deja vu, just imagine when the housemates return to the outside world and learn that not only has the Prime Minister sacked Suella Braverman, but David Cameron is back in government as foreign secretary.
Holly Willoughby quits This Morning
Holly Willoughby was still the presenter of This Morning when the BB stars entered the house (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
Two days after viewers began flocking to ITV in the evenings to watch Big Brother, its daytime slot was thrown into chaos with the sudden departure of Holly Willoughby from This Morning.
Her departure came after a difficult year during which a man was charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her, and the dramatic exit of her long-time co-host Phillip Schofield after he admitted to lying about having an affair with a runner.
She announced her departure with a statement on Instagram and did not return to the show for a final episode.
Lots of celebrity babies – from Kourtney Kardashian to Gordon Ramsay and Victoria Coren Mitchell
Gordon Ramsay, Victoria Coren Mitchell and Kourtney Kardashian are among the celebs welcoming new arrivals since the start of Big Brother (Picture: Gordon Ramsay Instagram)
It’s the season of surprise babies apparently, as in the six weeks the Big Brother contestants have been inside, there have been two secret babies welcomed by celebrities.
Which isn’t a lot, sure, but it’s still weird that it happened twice.
Only Connect’s Victoria Coren Mitchell, 51, announced she had given birth to a daughter with husband David Mitchell, 49, on November 1 after keeping her pregnancy a secret.
And on November 11, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, 57, shared that his wife Tana, 49, had welcomed a son, Jesse James, after keeping the pregnancy a secret (despite Gordon accidentally spilling the beans earlier in the year and then insisting it was a joke.)
Girls Aloud back with new music, new album and Glastonbury rumours
There was some major Girls Aloud reunion news while the Big Brother stars were in the house (Picture: Getty)
We reckon there are a few people left in the Big Brother house who will be absolutely elated at the major rumours Girls Aloud have got back together.
In November it was reported that the iconic girl band were reunited after more than 10 years apart, with new music in the pipeline, ‘in honour’ of late bandmate Sarah Harding, who died of breast cancer at the age of 39 in September 2021.
And odds for a major gig at Glastonbury 2024 were slashedbooked, with Ladbrokes making Girls Aloud 3/1 to take to the stage at Worthy Farm next year.
Two beloved chocolate bars discontinued
Animal Bars and Caramacs are no more (Picture: Amazon/Nestle)
If you don’t think this is newsworthy, you don’t have a heart.
In November, it was announced that Nestle was discontinuing Animal Bars after more than 60 years.
The heart-wrenching news came just days after it was announced Nestlé would be axing the Caramac bar.
From watching Big Brother the last few weeks, we know there are a few housemates with a major sweet tooth.
And once evicted, what if the only thing they want is an Animal Bar? It doesn’t even bear thinking about.
Actors’ Strike finishes after 118 days
Hollywood actors have finished their strike after 118 days on the picket line (Picture: AFP)
When the housemates entered Big Brother, actors had been on strike for months, with no sign of it ending.
But when they emerge, they’ll be greeted by red carpet premieres, press conferences and stars promoting their upcoming projects.
The end of the strike came after weeks of intensive negotiations between the SAG-AFTRA union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) around AI, better pay and security for actors.
Harry Styles *gasp* shaves his head
Harry Styles looks very different now than he did when the housemates entered the house (Picture: Getty)
You just know there’s a former Directioner and a Harry Styles super fan in that house, and when they get back to the outside world they’ll have to come to terms with Harry Styles’ newly-shorn head.
Rumours began circulating about Harry’s new looks when some extremely grainy photographs purporting to be of the Watermelon Sugar star emerged, in a Bigfoot-style search for proof of Harry’s buzzcut.
Days later it was confirmed – first by Harry’s mum, then by an official photoshoot: the brunette curls are no more.
Trish’s past tweets come back to haunt her
Trish was under fire for historic Tweets unearthed soon after she was evicted from the house (Picture: Shutterstock)
Almost immediately after Big Brother housemate Trish was evicted, historic Tweets emerged containing racist and homophobic language.
The 33-year-old had formed some strong friendships in the house, particularly with Yinrun, and it won’t be easy for them to read the old posts.
Trish has already apologised, writing in a statement: ‘I’m aware that some very concerning old tweets of mine have resurfaced, and I would like to sincerely apologise for the harmful stereotypes I perpetuated and the pain I have caused to the marginalised communities and groups of people mentioned.’
Celebrity Big Brother confirmed to be returning
Celebrity Big Brother is coming back – but can anything ever beat this moment? (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)
The Big Brother 2023 housemates are still in the building, and we’re already looking forward to a new series.
Rumours had been swirling that the popular Celebrity Big Brother spin-off was set for a return, and on November 11 it was confirmed: CBB will be back in 2024.
It will see a new cast of celebs take part in the ultimate televised social experiment, followed by a Celebrity edition of Late and Live directly after each episode.
There’s no word on which celebrities might be taking part, but speculation already swirled over former This Morning host Phillip Schofield…
Big Brother airs at 9pm Friday on ITV
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It’s been a wild six weeks.