TV

Amanda Barrie reveals the truth behind decision to do CBB at 82

Former Corrie star is the oldest ever contestant

Former Coronation Street star Amanda Barrie delighted everybody as she was revealed as the final contestant to join Celebrity Big Brother on launch night.

The 82-year-old actress likened the CBB house to “going into a care home”, as she left her wife Hilary Bonner, to join the other housemates.

She went on to say: “I vary between thinking, ‘Have I gone entirely mad at my age?” to, ‘Is this going to be fun?’.

“The thing is, when you get to 82 and someone asks you to do something, it would be foolish to say no,” she said.

“It’s a new adventure for me. I mean, what else am I going to do? I’ll just be sitting at home, so I thought I might as well have a go.”

Host Emma Willis called Amanda an “inspiration” and asked whether she would be partying in the house, to which Amanda replied:

“I am one of these people who goes, ‘I’m not having a drink’ and then after 16 Cosmopolitans I go, ‘How did that happen?'”

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The star was the last to enter the house and joined the rest of the first all female Big Brother house.

Already in and waiting, were model  Jess Impiazzi, former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe,  Ashley James, India Willoughby, Malika Hagg  and journalist Rachel Johnson, daughter of I’m A Celebrity star Stanley Johnson and sister of MP Boris!

They were also joined by former detective, Maggie Oliver, who was responsible for exposing the Rochdale child sex grooming ring.

Before she went in, Amanda also told the Daily Mirror that the real reason she signed up, was to stop her sitting around thinking about dying.

“I had no intention of doing it [Celebrity Big Brother], but then I thought it could pay for my care home.

“It would be nice to have that independence.”

“What keeps me working? I think its occupational therapy to stop me thinking about death, really.”

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The Benidorm star also revealed that she would spend some of her fee on taking all of her family on holiday after a particularly horrible year.

She said: “I’ve had a lot of tragedies in my family recently, young ones and old ones.

“I think they all need a bit of a holiday together, so that’s what I will spend some of the money on.

“My family have all been incredible. They actually did say to me after all the tragedies we’ve had, ‘For God’s sake go in because you’ll make such a fool of yourself, it’ll take our mind off everything’.”

We are looking forward to seeing what one of the oldest contestants in the house, ever, is going to bring to the table!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor