Several former Celebrity Big Brother housemates are no longer with us.
The iconic reality show is heading back to television screens on Monday (March 4) after a six-year break with a hole host of famous faces moving into the most famous house in Britain.
Hosts Aj Odudu and Will Best will greet the celebrities during a live launch show on ITV1 and then they were give up their life of luxuries to take on brutal tasks as well as face nominations and evictions.
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Ahead of the new gang swapping their glam life for the Big Brother house, Daily Star has taken a look back at the legendary housemates who have passed away since their stint on the programme.
Pete Burns
(Image: PA)
Dead or Alive star Pete appeared in 2006 series of Celebrity Big Brother. Some of his highlights on the show included perform his hit song You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) to fellow housemates.
10 years on from his appearance on the show the singer suffered a cardiac arrest and died aged 57. A statement from his management broke the sad news, saying: “It is with the greatest sadness that we have to break the tragic news that our beloved Pete Burns of (Dead Or Alive), died suddenly yesterday of a massive cardiac arrest.
“All of his family and friends are devastated by the loss of our special star. He was a true visionary, a beautiful talented soul, and he will be missed by all who loved and appreciated everything he was and all of the wonderful memories the has left us with. He will live forever in our memories.”
Jade Goody
(Image: PA)
Jade became one of Big Brother’s biggest stars after appearing in the third series of the civilian edition of the reality show back in 2002. The nation fell in in love with Jade, who came fourth in the series, but in 2007 when she appeared in the celebrity version of the show and got evicted after being accused of racially abusing Indian actress housemate Shilpa Shetty.
Jade later apologised to Shilpa before taking part in the Indian version of Celebrity Big Brother in 2008 – but the former dental nurse was forced to pull out of the show after she was told she had cervical cancer. After chemotherapy was unsuccessful, Jade died the following year aged 27.
Her mum Jackiey Budden later told in a Channel 4 documentary that Jade thought her cancer could be a punishment for her controversial Celebrity Big Brother appearance. She recalled: “One night she felt really scared because, obviously, she knew she was going very soon. She said, ‘Mum I feel like they’re coming to get me. They’re coming to get me. It’s going all dark’. She said, ‘Is that because I was so bad in Big Brother?'”
David Guest
(Image: PA)
David provided one of the most iconic moments in Celebrity Big Brother history, when word spread around the house that he’d “died” in a major mix-up. Tragically, a matter of weeks later he did die, with the showbiz legend found dead at a hotel in London in April 2016 at the age of 62 after suffering from a stroke.
While David’s housemate Angie Bowie had been referring to the death of her former husband David Bowie, Tiffany Pollard assumed that she was talking about their unwell housemate David, who was actually asleep in bed. Following David Guest’s death, Tiffany have since said he haunts her kitchen “every once in a while,” before pleading: “David, please stop coming into the kitchen and messing with the knives and forks!”
The Flavour of Love star went on to explain how she and David never “made up” before he died, adding that he’s “mad” at her. When Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen asked Tiffany why she needs to make up with David’s “spirit,” she said: “So he can stop turning on the coffee maker!”
Coolio
(Image: Channel 4)
Rapper Coolio appeared in the 2009 series of Celebrity Big Brother, and become one of the show’s most controversial housemates He was accused of bullying and being a “sex pest” by fellow housemates. Ofcom also received 527 complaints over claims he was “misogynistic” and “sexist” towards Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton.
Coolio tragically died, aged 59, in September 2022 after he was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his friend’s LA house. His manager said he died from a suspected cardiac arrest but but official cause of death has yet been announced.
Verne Troyer
(Image: Channel 4)
Austin Powers actor Verne appeared in the Big Brother House alongside Coolio in 2009 after shooting to fame in the Hollywood movie series. One of the 2ft 8inch actor’s highlights during his stint on the show, included his rendition of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s Endless Love with former Gladiators host Ulrika Jonsson.
Verne sadly passed away in April 2018, aged 49, from suicide through alcohol intoxication. The actor’s family issued a statement after he died that said: “Depression and Suicide are very serious issues. You never know what kind of battle someone is going through inside. Be kind to one another. And always know, it’s never too late to reach out to someone for help.”
Sarah Harding
(Image: Channel 5)
Girls Aloud star Sarah won Celebrity Big Brother in 2017. During her time in the house, Sarah entered into a relationship with The Bachelor star Chad Johnson and had some fiery rows with Ex on the Beach’s Jemma Lucy. She sadly died aged just 39 in September in 2021 after battling breast cancer.
The pop star shared her diagnosis in August 2020 and said the horrific disease had spread to other parts of her body. After leaving the show, she admitted in her autobiography she’d had her doubts about taking part.
She wrote: “When I try to think back about the reasons I agreed to do the show, I guess I thought it could be a good platform for me to get back in the public eye in a positive way. Yes, I knew there were going to be a few tricky characters in the house with me – there always were on the show – but I felt I had something to prove, not just to other people but myself but to myself, too.
She added: “I wanted to prove I could do it. I also went in there intending to show people a different side of me. I’d also been portrayed in the media as this mad, off-the-rails party girl.”
Derek Acorah
(Image: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
TV psychic Derek passed away in January 3, 2020 after a short battle of pneumonia, which then led to sepsis. He was 69 years old. During his time on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 the Most Haunted star appeared alongside Sarah Harding. He finished the competition in fourth place. His wife, Gwen Acorah Johnson said on her husband’s official Facebook page: “Farewell my love! I will miss you forever!
“I’m devastated to announce that my beloved husband Derek has passed away after a very brief illness. Thank you so much to everybody who has supported me – I can never thank you enough. To the vile couple who hounded him for responses to their ridiculous campaign whilst he was in Intensive Care in a coma, I hope you have the decency to hang your heads in shame. I have things to deal with now but I won’t forget nor will I forgive what you have done!”
Dustin Diamond
(Image: Getty Images)
Dustin, who played Screech in nineties classic Saved by the Bell, appeared in Big Brother in 2013. His exit came after he received the fewest number of votes to save him from the public. The star said although he was “buzzing” to be leaving the house he “had a great time” on the show, adding: “I loved everybody in there.” However, The actor sadly died aged aged 44 in 2021, just three weeks after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
His representative confirmed his tragic death at the time, saying: “We are saddened to confirm of Dustin Diamond’s passing on Monday, February 1st, 2021 due to carcinoma. He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago. In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution. Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”
Jackie Stallone
(Image: E 4)
The matriarch of Hollywood’s famous Stallone family, Jackie was a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother 3. She was brought onto the show to create tension within the house, as her former daughter-in-law Brigitte Nielsen, with whom she notoriously did not get along, was also a contestant. She was ultimately the first contestant voted out by viewers after spending just four days in the house. Jackie passed away on September 21, 2020 at the age of 98. Her death was announced by her son Frank.
Colin Newall – Heavy D
(Image: PA)
Known by his stage name Heavy D, Colin shot to fame after appearing as a main buyer on the UK version of Storage Hunters, which airs on the digital channel Dave. Before finding fame he was a cab driver and had been working the markets from the age of eight, buying and selling women’s clothes. In November 2020, it was revealed that Colin, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother 18 had passed away following a heart attack. At the time, when COVID was still relatively unknown, rumours circled that the virus was linked to his death.
Kirstie Alley
(Image: Getty Images)
In 2018, Kirsty participated in the 22nd series of UK Celebrity Big Brother, in which she finished runner-up to former Corrie actor Ryan Thomas. The Cheers actress died from cancer at the age of 71. A statement posted on social media through her official accounts described her as an “incredible, fierce and loving mother”.
She was surrounded by her closest family members, the statement said. She was best known for her breakout role as Rebecca Howe in the NBC sitcom Cheers from 1987 to 1993, and received both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for the role in 1991.
Celebrity Big Brother returns on Monday, March 4 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
