Cliff Notes – Celebrity Big Brother schedule shake-up following Mickey Rourke axe
- Mickey Rourke has been removed from the Celebrity Big Brother house after less than a week due to repeated warnings about inappropriate language, including homophobic remarks directed at JoJo Siwa.
- Following his ejection, it is reported that Rourke will not receive his full £500,000 fee, and a verbal altercation with Chris Hughes contributed to the decision for his removal.
- The airing schedule for Celebrity Big Brother has been adjusted, with the next episode set to air at 10pm instead of the usual 9pm, due to the launch of a new drama series on ITV.
Celebrity Big Brother schedule shake-up following Mickey Rourke axe
It’s been a dramatic first week in the Celebrity Big Brother house, largely thanks to Mickey Rourke and his inappropriate behaviour.
On Saturday night, it was announced that the movie star, 72, had been ejected from the ITV abode after repeated warnings about unacceptable language. It’s now believed he will not receive his full £500,000 paycheque.
But while viewers will be itching to get the lowdown on exactly what led to Mickey’s removal, we’ll have to wait a little longer tonight.
In a schedule shake-up, Sunday’s episode of CBB has been pushed back an hour.
Since its launch on Monday, the reality show has aired at 9pm each night on ITV1 and ITVX. Tonight, however, it will air at 10pm.
This is because the new series of Grace is starting. While the John Simm-starring crime drama begins at 8pm, it lasts for two hours.
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CBB will finish at 11pm and spin-off show Late & Live will then quite literally live up to its name, airing on ITV2 from 11pm until 12:05am.
Fans needn’t worry, though, as the switch-up is only for one night, as CBB will air at 9pm again tomorrow.
It comes as speculation continues wildly on social media after ITV confirmed Mickey was no longer in the house.
Late last night, a spokesperson announced: ‘Mickey Rourke has agreed to leave the Celebrity Big Brother house this evening following a discussion with Big Brother regarding further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behaviour.’
Metro understands that there was a verbal altercation between the former boxer and Love island alum Chris Hughes, 32.
A disagreement during a task led to Mickey using ‘threatening’ language, although security was not called, as no physical incident took place.
Just days ago, viewers saw Mickey receive a formal warning for homophobic language directed towards JoJo Siwa.
The actor told the 21-year-old TikTok star that she ‘would not be gay anymore’ if he stayed in the house, and proceeded to use the F slur after stating, ‘I’m gonna vote out the lesbian.’
He was confronted by Chris, who told him, ‘Mickey, you can’t say that,’ resulting in his ‘allyship’ being widely praised by audiences at home.
Mickey was immediately pulled into the Diary Room for a dressing down by Big Brother, while JoJo, who is proudly gay and has a non-binary partner on the outside, sobbed into Chris’s arms, clearly upset.
He responded: ‘I apologise. I don’t have dishonourable intentions—I’m just talking smack, you know?
‘I wasn’t taking it all so serious. I didn’t mean any bad intentions, and if I did, sorry.’
Alas, it seems a verbal warning was not enough for Mickey, who had already caused controversy on launch night by ‘creepily’ grabbing host AJ Odudu, as his stint in the house has come to an end.
He offended several housemates during his brief time in the famous compound, including Eastenders icon Patsy Palmer, as he criticised her cooking, and Donna Preston, after body-shaming the comedian.
This makes him the second housemate to leave this series, following former MP Michael Fabricant’s eviction on Friday night.
The politician was up against Corrie star Jack P. Shepherd, who received eight nominations from his fellow housemates, and Mickey, who had been killer nominated by JoJo.
Michael received the fewest votes to save from the public and was visibly gutted to be the first one out the doors.
Remaining in the house now are the likes of Trisha Goddard, Daley Thompson, Danny Beard, Chesney Hawkes, and Ella Rae Wise, who enter the second week and await the next live eviction on Tuesday.
Celebrity Big Brother airs tonight at 10pm on ITV1 and ITVX.