Latest news with #BigBrothers
Metro
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Celebrity Big Brother winner is clear – I've known it since day one
Rarely, if ever, do you get a Celebrity Big Brother final with six worthy winners in their own right. But there can only be one and surely it has to be Danny Beard. When the Celebrity Big Brother cast was first leaked days before the live launch, it was clear this was going to be a spectacular series – Mickey Rourke aside – for all the right reasons. It was a line-up that was packed with star power, but not reliant on it. The last series, and first on ITV, made an obvious mistake, casting Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. Although they made great television as a pair, there was little else to celebrate and more importantly they didn't capture the essence of Celebrity Big Brother. All Big Brothers, celebrity or otherwise, only really need a handful of players to really root for. It's easy to throw in characters that will inevitably create drama but without stand-out winners, it very quickly becomes a slog and last year's CBB was often hard work. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Skip to 2025 and we've had one of the best CBBs of all time, thanks to finalists Danny, Jojo Siwa, Donna Preston, Chesney Hawkes, Chris Hughes, and Jack P. Shepherd, with an honourable mention going to Patsy Palmer, whose comical misery was by far my highlight. Though everyone still in the house has brought something special to the screen, Danny captures everything about a champion. Since Danny walked into the house, they've commanded the room with ease and been friendly to all housemates, regardless of having different viewpoints – take his early camaraderie with ex-Tory MP Michael Fabricant, for one. I've laughed at Danny's quick comebacks and cheeky pranks, like when he tricked Donna into crawling around on all fours while they were dressed as house cats. But more than this, Danny's fierce advocacy for gender non-conforming identities is powerful to watch, particularly when outside the house, unknown to them, the trans community have been dealt a cruel blow with the UK Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not women. Platforming trans people and drag queens has never felt more important, and Danny winning Celebrity Big Brother could be a true testament to how a huge portion of the country really feels about trans men and women, and anyone who doesn't fit inside the confinement of binary gender identities. But the politics around gender aside, Danny is a Celebrity Big Brother winner through and through, even when he's now up against five contestants who, in many other series, would instead take the gold medal. I expected they would be a clear winner from the get-go but actually he had tougher competition than anyone could have predicted. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Chris became a huge front-runner after proving himself as a somewhat unexpected ally to Jojo, when she was subjected to vile homophobic remarks from the now-disgraced Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke. Meanwhile, Jojo has been on the biggest journey out of any contestant in there, redefining her own gender and her relationship with her sexuality after having the space for the first time in her life to sit with herself and explore who she is away from the limelight. It's been such a joy to watch this global popstar, who has been more gracious and humble than anyone could have imagined, discover so much about herself in such a short space of time. I'd never heard of Donna before she entered the Celebrity Big Brother house and my only regret about this series is we didn't see more of her. She's been at the centre of all the comedy, which is CBB's greatest strength, and has had me howling with one-liners and general nonchalance about the competition. And then Chesney Hawkes has lived up to his reputation of just being the nicest guy in pop, who has kept a career going off the back of one song for over 30 years, largely because he's just so bloody lovely. Jack too has grown so much since the beginning, from being nominated by an overwhelming majority of the house for sulking and winding people up, to coming out of his shell and being one of the most popular housemates in there. But for me, if this series is celebrated for one thing, it's the wicked sense of humour of Danny, which comes in the package of a fabulous drag queen and is delivered with so much warmth, a stunning example of the very best of the queer community. Danny said his humour is his secret weapon, but I disagree – it's his wisdom. He has been such a comfort in the house, and has shown empathy to others few in his position would have. He went in admitting he was fearful of Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson, but he gave him a chance, they talked through their perspectives and formed a friendship. He's given much-needed guidance to Jojo when her own journey has taken her by surprise. They may not have struck up the close connection they expected to until these final few days, but Danny was still the role-model full of LGBTQ+ intelligence and experience Jojo needed, whether they were close at the time or not. But someone as fun and sharp as Danny just inevitably brings out the best in everyone around them too. Danny can absolutely be serious when they need to be, but just being in the room you can see it's immediately lifted. To be fair, after they fell into a pile of boxes dressed as a Stepford housewife, they deserved the trophy there and then – but they've had so many meme-able moments like every CBB legend should. That's why this series has been so fun because even if they're not at the centre of the joke, it's their energy alone that brings the humour out in others. Initially, I think several housemates were intimidated by Danny but it's a testament to them that they didn't just win them over, they love them. More Trending After a rocky couple of days with Chris, Danny being hugged and kissed by the former Love Island star after they both escaped eviction on Tuesday was an example of how easy it is to want to be around them. So often the star of a series leaves empty-handed – Scotty T winning the year of Tiffany Pollard's David's Dead is one of the biggest crimes of the century – but tonight, for the first time for as long as I can remember, I would genuinely be happy for any of them to win. Each is deserving in their own right but for me Danny would be one of the best Celebrity Big Brother winners of all time. Let's make it happen… View More » Celebrity Big Brother airs tonight at 9pm on ITV1. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Olivia Attwood 'warned' Celebrity Big Brother 2025 star about ex Chris Hughes MORE: I watched 49 hours of You – season 5 made me regret it MORE: I think Freddie Flintoff's facial scars look cool – they're just like mine
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
Compassion and Community: Remembering Donna Santiago
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Long-time Panama City resident Donna Santiago will be remembered by many. Those who didn't know her are getting the chance to learn about her legacy now from the message her sons are spreading. Community members, her four sons, and 15 grandchildren have poured their love and memories into a vigil for all to see in a heavily trafficked Panama City area. Big Brothers Big Sisters sells license plates to raise money for mentorship program Santiago's son Angelo says they'll grieve in private later, but connecting with the community in what's been an overflow of compassion has helped. 'It's a monumental type of compassion and community. And I just on behalf of my mother, you know, I send her regards and I just thank them all. I think all the community members they've helped me with this vigil, tooth and nail since I've been here and my brothers have been here,' Donna's oldest son, Angelo Maldonado, said. Local Saint Andrews business 'Drews Dawgs' served up food and support near the shrine. Donating a portion of proceeds to the Santiago family. 'I didn't know this many good people existed, and it's just a breath of fresh air to see that they do and the impact that they can make on each other's lives,' Angelo said. Drivers passing by offered their condolences, donations, and friendly waves. Angelo says that while they understand a lot in this world is out of their power and their control, the goal is to spread awareness and accountability. 'Two big A's, right? So accountability and awareness is essential. She always used sidewalks and crosswalks. She's not like the jaywalking type, you know, she'll take the long route just to use the crosswalk type of woman and it just breaks my heart that people have to face these types of dangers whenever they're just traveling in their communities,' Angelo said. Ascension Sacred Heart Bay celebrates the gift of life during National Donate Life Month Her son says Santiago was walking to her beauty salon to get dolled up for her birthday when the incident occurred. Donna Santigao would have been 54 this Sunday. To donate to the families' GoFundMe to help put their mother to rest, Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Big Brothers Big Sisters sells license plates to raise money for mentorship program
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring organization that matches children from single-parent homes with adult mentors. Mentors work with children one-on-one, focusing on education and life-skill building. They currently have 61 partnerships and 22 kids waiting to be matched. Before they can create matches, volunteers have to go through background checks. Each one costs $1,250. To help raise money, Big Brothers Big Sisters has license plates available. You can stop by your local tax collector's office to buy a license plate for $72.60. WCSO invites public to join funeral procession to honor Deputy William May For each license plate sold, $25 goes towards one-on-one mentoring programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters area manager Leanne Gaudet says the program helps change kids' lives. 'Our kids, you know, we just see them do better in so many avenues once they have a mentor in their lives. We see their grades get better, we see their self-esteem improve, and we see them do better with as far as relationships with peers. And we see them just overall be happier kids that get to be kids,' Gaudet said. The biggest need is for Big Brothers, they have a long list of boys that are in need of a mentor. Volunteers can get involved by reaching out to (850)-763-KIDS. To learn how to purchase a Big Brothers Big Sisters license plate, . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
