Celebrity Big Brother: Courtney Act becomes the first star nominated for eviction this week
Drag star Courtney Act has become the first star nominated for eviction next week, as the show enters its final five days.
In a tweet on the official Big Brother account, it was announced following Sunday’s show that Courtney would be the first star nominated for eviction.
It is not yet known whether Courtney was nominated by her fellow housemates, or by a decision from the show’s bosses.
Courtney has recently had several disagreements with ultra-conservative former MP Ann Widdecombe, who is now set to win the show.
The drag star also argued with fellow housemates Amanda Barrie and Wayne Sleep during Sunday’s episode, over a discussion of Ann’s voting record on LGBT rights.
Related: Andrew Brady hits out against an Ann Widdecombe win after his eviction
During Sunday’s episode, Ann reflected on the recent triple eviction of Andrew Brady, Jonny Mitchell and Daniel O’Reilly.
In this eviction, Courtney was also nominated but was saved by the public vote.
When asked whether she thought Courtney would be missing Andrew Brady as well as Shane, Ann promptly replied that she didn’t recognise Shane’s drag persona.
She said: “Look, I don’t acknowledge Courtney.
“It’s a drag act.”
Ann then confused several viewers when whilst trying to show the difference between drag and being trans, she said that drag wasn’t ‘a transgender business.’
“This isn’t India, this isn’t a transgender business,” she said.
One Celebrity Big Brother fan wrote on Twitter: “Ann, I would *love* to know what ‘this transgender business’ is.”
Former housemate India Willoughby made headlines during her time in the Celebrity Big Brother house after she claimed to have a fear of drag queens.
She attacked the art of drag after Shane/Courtney helped a fellow contestant, Apprentice star Andrew Brady, to transform into a drag queen.
Ann continued in the Diary room, comparing Courtney’s drag persona to fellow housemate and actress Amanda Barrie.
Ann said: “It’s an act in the same way that I don’t think of Amanda as Alma in Coronation Street.
“Courtney isn’t real, Shane is.”
The other nominees for next week’s eviction will be announced during Monday’s episode.
This season of Celebrity Big Brother has one of the longest in the show’s history, running for an expected total of 32 days.
Despite the length of the 2018 show, Channel 5 bosses are expected to axe the programme and not renew its contract.