Celebrity Big Brother star Lauren Simon has explained why she didn't return to Late and Live after her expulsion from the house, and criticized the nature of the questions she and Ekin-Su Culculoglu were required to answer.
The Real Housewives of Cheshire star, 51, was the second contestant to leave the reality show, following behind Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary Goldsmith.
And although she only spent a short time in the house with the likes of Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne , she definitely provided entertainment – from sitting in a bin after breaking a rule to *that* apology that followed.
But it was what happened after she left the house that surprised her, with Lauren now revealing she was not happy with the questions asked by hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best during Late & Live.
This comes after the Celebrity Big Brother spin-off show received criticism for the exit interview with Ekin-Su, in which the former Love Island contestant criticized the 'editing' and felt abandoned with only her mom by her side It has been reported that 139 people complained to Ofcom after the episode due to 'the treatment of Ekin-Su by the presenters and guest panel,' and now Lauren has addressed the questioning..
Discussing Late & Live, where Ekin-Su clashed with Nikita Kuzmin’s former Strictly partner Layton Williams, Lauren recalled her own experience, saying it was 'so torturous'.
Lauren Simon was the second housemate evicted (Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
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‘We sat there for two hours and it’s so torturous, and you’ve got all these different emotions because half of you wants to go home and the other half thinks you’re letting yourself down because you’ve been voted out.
‘And also the booing, facing the public, we didn't know what we were facing when coming out, it was so scary.'
She continued: 'And to come out and be hit with questions like that, I experienced it and it was so awful. It's not fair, it's unjust.
‘I think they were quite forceful with myself and with her, which is why I also didn't go back to Late & Live, to be honest.
The interview with Ekin-Su resulted in Ofcom complaints (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother)
‘I just think it's a bit tough, and I don't think they were particularly gentle with someone who has just come out of such a stressful situation.'
‘A little bit of kindness can go a long way,’ she said.
Ekin-Su, 29, received a lot of criticism during her time in the Celebrity Big Brother house, after being
accused of being outraged at a model for OnlyFans and stating that she didn't post any bikini pictures, which fans quickly proved to be untrue. She also refused to talk about Love Island – despite mentioning the reality programme where she found fame multiple times herself – and was strangely unfriendly to her co-stars,
causing her loyal fans to turn away from her, it seems. Ekin-Su faced criticism for comments she made in the house (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother)
‘She’s a powerful and important person,’ she added.
Her comments come after Ekin-Su’s family
pleaded with Celebrity Big Brother fans to stop sending her online abuse Elsewhere, Lauren talked about her connection with other members in the house, especially former X Factor judges Louis and Sharon, despite her initial nerves at meeting them..
She told us: ‘Honestly, I was a little bit nervous to meet them because they’re so famous. I grew up watching The X Factor, and Louis was always a bit scary, he was a bit tough, and Sharon was a bit outspoken, but I actually adore both of them.’
Lauren went on to say that she now sees Louis like a ‘father figure’, saying: ‘I love Louis, he’s so sarcastic, he says what he wants and what he thinks, but then he winks with a smile on his face.
Lauren compared Louis Walsh to a ‘father figure’ (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother)
‘I fell in love with him straight away in a fatherly way,’ she added, highlighting that their feelings for each other quickly changed despite Louis admitting he first thought he wouldn’t get along with Lauren.
They shared a particularly close bond after being forced to sit outside in a bin, where, Lauren revealed, the pair were treated to a cheeky McDonald’s and quickly got over moaning and fears of the cold.
Some of the other housemates though have taken aim at Louis, accusing him of falling asleep and skipping chores and not even making his own cups of tea.
‘In fairness, Louis is 71,’ Lauren told us. ‘Between 20 and 30 they can stay up all night and jump around, but as you get older you need your sleep, you’re tired, and you can’t be bothered playing stupid, immature games. Why should he make a cup of tea?’
She went on: ‘They’re asking him to mentor them and make them famous, the least they can do is make him a cup of tea.’
Series 17 of the hit reality show The Real Housewives of Cheshire launches on ITVBe and ITVX on Monday, March 25, at 9pm.
Celebrity Big Brother continues at 9pm tonight on ITV1.
‘It’s not fair.’
