The initial contestant from the 2024 edition of Celebrity Big Brother has been eliminated.
Real Housewives star Lauren Simon was in competition with Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary Goldsmith, after the former received the most nominations in the house, and the latter was nominated by Sharon Osbourne.
After just under one week in the house, the audience voted to expel one contestant.
Following a lot of contention and facing disapproval from the live audience, Goldsmith, 58, became the first contestant voted out, stating he had ‘the best time’.
Speaking to hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best after his departure, he mentioned he intended to ‘change his personality’, but later expressed regret – not nominating Louis Walsh for eviction.
‘Both people I voted for, I regret that I voted for them,’ he said.
‘I voted for Lauren and I voted for Zeze [Millz], and I shouldn’t have, because it was very quick to make a vote and you had to make the judgement.’
After being pushed to give a name, Goldsmith said he would have chosen the former X Factor judge, who ‘fell asleep a lot’.
‘If I’m really honest, he’s great value, but he does fall asleep a lot.’
‘It’s been a crazy whirlwind,’ he added on Late and Live after returning to the ‘real world’.
Goldsmith had been nominated by Sharon – whose short stay in the house is coming to an end after providing plenty of entertainment – after saying he was ‘odd ball’ and calling out his ‘insecurities’.
Responding to those comments, Goldsmith shared: ‘I was agreeing with absolutely everything she said.’
‘I don’t consider myself to be a celebrity,’ he added, saying the reality stint was ‘just an opportunity to be in that environment’.
Viewers have been left divided over his exit, with @LukeelkinsTv blasting: ‘I don’t really have any interest in seeing him interviewed.’
‘Thank God I never have to hear about or see Gary ever again, after only knowing he even existed for 4 days too long,’ @s_a_n_t_i_n_a added.
But @leohughes66 said: ‘Ffs, the problem with a public vote is, the public vote. They’ve just got rid of a potential bomb & kept a weeper.’
‘Gary is so cringe,’ @SandraSezer added.
It had been predicted earlier today that Lauren, 48, would receive the most nominations and leave the house tonight.
She’d also faced a fair share of backlash over her inability to pronounce Corrie star Colson Smith’s name, and after sparking a row with fellow housemate Zeze Millz.
The series has seen plenty of drama so far, from Louis Walsh and Lauren being forced to sit in a wheelie bin after a rule-break, and Sharon revealing all the gossip about some top Hollywood celebrities.
The episode on Friday also had a lot of crying, with Goldsmith being accused of pretending to cry, after saying he is ‘a national villain’.
When asked by Fern Britton from This Morning about ‘finding peace’, he responded: ‘I believe peace is something to always strive for. I thought I was living a great life, until something unexpected happened.
‘One day I was Gary, a businessman, having a good time, with a great family, in a good place, and the next moment I’m a national villain, because if any of you looked me up online, it’s just terrible.’
‘But it’s not who I am, so I really don’t know what true peace is if I’m honest,’ he added, getting emotional.
‘I’m not exaggerating, by the way, I’m having a little moment here,’ Goldsmith later said, expressing that he wanted to come on the show to ‘change views’ and show that he wasn’t ‘that awful’.
After investigating his past though, viewers are not convinced, with viewer @_JamesGtfo writing: ‘I really don’t believe Gary when he talks. He seems so insincere and fake.’
@hanreads_ added: ‘Go away, Gary. You’ve not changed ANYONES perception on you.’
‘Gary forcing the sympathy tears,’ @Dee_Cee95x added, while @Shannon_xoxo said: ‘Gary trying to paint himself as a victim.’
The businessman was involved in a scandal in 2009 after getting caught allegedly cutting up cocaine for a sex worker at his Ibiza villa in a News of the World sting.
Then, in 2017, he admitted attacking his wife Julie-Ann Goldsmith and knocking her to the ground in a drunken argument.
The couple had been arguing about his drug use and after he was slapped, Goldsmith then punched his wife with a ‘left hook’ after which she fell to the ground, hitting her head on the pavement, and was unconscious for about 15 seconds before regaining consciousness.
In court, he later admitted one charge of assault by beating and was given a 12-month community order with 20 rehab sessions to ensure ‘this sort of loutish behavior does not happen again.’
He was also fined £5,000 and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge, and £85 towards prosecution costs.
And fans weren’t the only ones left unconvinced by his tears. In a later conversation, Love Island star Ekin-Su Culculoglu admitted she wasn’t ‘buying’ it.
‘You can see who is genuine,’ she added.
Goldsmith later responded saying: ‘Of course it was all real.’
Celebrity Big Brother airs at 9pm on ITV1.
Check back shortly for further updates.
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