ITV has no excuse to keep Mickey Rourke on Celebrity Big Brother

Watching the opening episode of Celebrity Big Brother 2025 on ITV made my skin crawl.

After skipping the last series, I couldn’t wait to get stuck back into the show, particularly with the brilliant personalities included in the leaked line-up.

I was ready to watch drag star Danny Beard storm up the bookmakers’ odds as a fan-favourite, and to learn more about what makes internet sensation JoJo Siwa tick.

Then out came Mickey Rourke. And his atrocious behaviour towards AJ Odudu. It disgusted me to my core. How he could be allowed to continue on the reality show after those first few moments is beyond me.

After sauntering onto the stage, the 72-year-old Oscar nominee first shook presenter Will Best’s hand, before taking Odudu’s and making her twirl.

He then suddenly pulled her towards him, arm round her waist, and made her back slam into his torso as she laughed and said: ‘You’re very flirtatious!’

I couldn’t believe the entitlement that I was witnessing on live TV. A man who seemed to act as though it was his right to make intimate physical contact with a woman he’d just met, while she decided to grin and bear it so that she could continue doing her job.

While I might not have had the exact same experience as Odudu – being accosted on live TV by a powerful Hollywood star – unwanted and uncomfortable male attention is a universal experience for women.

I wish I didn’t, but I know how it feels.

How many of us have laughed off a man touching us without our consent due to the fear of him lashing out if we reacted with anger? Or brushed off inappropriate behaviour because it ‘could have been worse’?

Odudu smiled as she dealt with the situation with her co-host’s help – but she shouldn’t have had to, and it’s shameful that it happened at all. In my opinion, Rourke shouldn’t have been allowed to step foot into the house after that.

Not least because his behaviour went beyond that initial greeting.

When the actor arrived on stage, Best, 40, began the interview by asking him if he thinks that he could win Celebrity Big Brother. Odudu, 37, then turned to him, saying how excited she was to see him on the show.

Rourke took a step back, looking Odudu up and down with a leering stare and complimenting her on her outfit.

Ever the professional, Odudu tried to continue with the chat, while Rourke carried on appraising her body, even attempting to look at her from behind while seemingly not paying any mind to the millions of people who were watching him through their TV screens.

‘Stop looking at me! It’s time for you to get in the house!’ she exclaimed, while Best also tried to guide Rourke away, telling him: ‘In you go Mickey!’ as the Big Brother theme music began to play.

Odudu physically turned Rourke away from her, grabbing his shoulders and twisting him to face the entrance, but he resisted, saying: ‘I want to stay with you.’

Later on the Celebrity Big Brother sister show Late and Live, the incident was addressed by Alan Carr, who stated: ‘Can we talk about Mickey Rourke looking at you?’ while imitating Rourke’s eyes springing out of his skull.

Members of the audience in the studio began booing and making thumbs down gestures, demonstrating exactly what they rightfully thought of the actor’s actions towards Odudu.

‘Find someone who looks at you the way Mickey Rourke looks at you, honestly. His tongue was hanging out,’ Carr continued, appearing to make light of the situation when it would have been far more heartening for him to call out Rourke’s behaviour for what it was: despicable.

‘You can’t afford these feathers Mickey. No!’ Odudu quipped, as the other panelists laughed.

It’s been reported that Rourke received an enormous six-figure fee to appear on Celebrity Big Brother this year, making him one of the biggest signings ever on the TV show – but I don’t care.

I don’t care if axing him from the show would be a detrimental financial decision. After the way we all saw him act when he met Odudu – brazenly touching her despite her protestations for him to stop looking at her – ITV should have cut their losses and got him out.

While there are some fans who are justifiably furious about his behaviour, others have horrifyingly found him comical, hailing the ‘chaos’ and ‘entertainment’ that they believe Rourke is going to bring to Celebrity Big Brother.

‘This show is the gift that keeps on giving,’ one fan called @HelloItsLevi wrote on X.

‘I needed a scandal this season and I believe Mickey Rourke will provide it,’ another named @adammdaveyy added.

No – we don’t need Rourke in the Big Brother House for the sake of creating a scandal.

I don’t need to watch a man who sends shivers down my spine in the worst possible way to be entertained. The bar is extraordinarily low if that’s what viewers are lapping up.

When Rourke eventually leaves the house (presuming he isn’t removed by ITV bosses), it’ll be expected for him to have an exit chat with Odudu and Best.

Odudu is well within her right to refuse to be in the same room as Rourke after what transpired. If that’s her decision, I hope she’s heard and her wishes are respected. It’s the least that could be done.

Metro has contacted ITV, Mickey Rourke’s representative and AJ Odudu’s representatives for comment.

Celebrity Big Brother continues at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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