Did anyone else really struggle with no Big Brother last night? Monday night really felt like a Monday night and we don't like it. Don't get us wrong – or smite us down, ITV – we love a bit of I'm A Celeb, but no reality show will ever slap as hard as Big Brother and that's not up for discussion. What did we do instead? We just went to bed early and read a book. Okay, heat magazine.
But the Big Brother 2024 buzz is hardly over as our finalists are now out of the house, doing tell-all interviews and posting on their socials once again, so there's plenty of goss still to be spread. For example, yesterday (Monday 18 November) we caught up with Big Brother winner Ali Bromley – which, honestly, was like Christmas came early for us – and we got IN TO IT.
Not only did she shed some light on where she currently stands with Emma Morgan, but she opened up about being labelled 'The Red Witch' in the house by Segun Shodipo and 'The Core'. While we already know that Ali reacted to this controversial title like the absolute queen she is (the grace though – very demure, very mindful), she opened up about the momentary hurt she felt when the name started doing the rounds around the Big Brother house in our exclusive chat.
Ali told heatworld, 'I felt hurt for like a moment because of the context - which was a discussion about getting me out of the house. I just had to quickly manage that feeling of being hurt and be like, I've got a choice here, I can either lean into it or I can get really upset. You know what? Let's just lean into it and have some fun with it. What a funny thing to say.'
QUEEN. BEHAVIOUR.
And thank the reality telly gods and goddesses she did find the funny side, because if you ask us, this is some iconic branding for our BB queen. Seriously - we've personally asked Ali if she'll consider playing 'The Red Witch' in a panto next year (preferably one within the M25).
And clearly we're not the only ones who think so, as in a convo about the Red Witch outfit Big Brother gave her for Halloween, Ali revealed, 'I was so happy when Big Brother gave me that outfit. I was like, "Yes! My Halloween costume absolutely bangs, I really love this" and I really had some fun with it.'
She continued, 'My mum purchased herself a red witch hat which she wore while she was watching me on the show. That kind of thing just makes me laugh so much. One of my friends forwarded me a screenshot – because I don't have Twitter (X) – of someone who dressed up as me for Halloween. That is so funny. These are the things that have been making me laugh so much since I came out of the house.'
Okay, so where is the merch link? Because frankly, take our money, Ali. Actually, no, you just won £90K, can we take some of yours?
Please.
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Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big Brother, Love Island, and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅.