Bradley Riches has spoken out on his controversial exit from Celebrity Big Brother after the 'brutal' scenes aired on Thursday night (March 21). The Netflix star, who plays James McEwan in the hit teen series Heartstopper, was evicted from the iconic house just days before the final.
Bradley was sent packing during an emotional task which saw the remaining housemates - David Potts, Louis Walsh, Fern Britton, Nikita Kuzmin and Colson Smith - briefly reunite with loved ones ahead of the final. Nikita was greeted by his girlfriend, whilst Fern saw her daughter and Louis was met by 80s star Sinitta.
But instead of seeing a loved one, the TV star was stunned to see host AJ Odudu greet him, who then informed him that he was the next housemate to be evicted. The finalists watched on in shock as Bradley was told the news, and he was then allowed back into the house to say bye to his friends briefly before exiting the house.
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Taking to X, formerly Twitter, viewers were as baffled as the housemates over the twist, with many branding it 'cruel.' @ElloTeenah said: "That’s such a cruel way to evict… to watch everyone see their loved ones and that was his “moment”. Ouch. He is so adorable. #CBB" as @ChrisODwyer93 said: "#CBB how bloody cruel was that! Bradley deserved so much better."
Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Friday (March 22) following the widespread reaction to his 'brutal' exit, Bradley revealed how he really felt when AJ appeared instead of a family member.
The 22-year-old said: "I was expecting one of my family members or my friends, or even my dog, but when I saw the heel come round the corner I thought I don't think anyone I know would wear a heel that big. I understood what was going on then. AJ looked upset as well."
Bradley then told the hosts Richard Arnold and Kate Garraway that he was forced to go into hiding before his eviction aired. He said: When I left, I left on Wednesday night but it obviously got aired on Thursday night. So the whole of Wednesday I was with a chaperone like in lockdown so there was no phone, nothing, only an iPad with Netflix on it."
Sharing an insight on his housemate Louis Walsh, Bradley then said: "I think he could win it, I really think he could, but he doesn't want to win it that's what makes it funny. We all looked to Louis like a grandad at Christmas dinner, and we were the cousins who were annoying him, sometimes he loved it and sometimes he hated it.
He added: "Near the end I grew to love him, we didn't really speak at the beginning, but as people left I was kind of stuck with him."
