A second series of the ITV-revived Celebrity Big Brother is on the way, with it slated to land on our TV screens in spring this year. While it's too early to determine the official cast line-up, it's not too soon for the rumour mill to start churning out speculative contestants. While last year's Celebrity Big Brother winner David Potts holds onto his crown for a touch longer, these are the stars whose names have been in the ether ahead of the series launch.
Tommy Fury
In October, just months after his high-profile split from fiancée Molly-Mae Hague, rumours swirled that boxer and former Love Island star Tommy Fury could be set to enter the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle. However, when that failed to manifest, it was reported not long after that ITV bosses put him as their 'top pick' for Celebrity Big Brother instead.
A source claimed to The Mirror at the time, 'These are big money offers flying around, as Tommy is hot property. Everyone who followed his relationship wants to know why [he and Molly-Mae] split so suddenly, so signing him for another reality series would be a huge ratings boost.'
Chris Hughes
2017 Love Islander Chris Hughes - who previously dated Olivia Attwood and Jesy Nelson - has been heavily rumoured to be part of the Celebrity Big Brother 2025 line-up.
The Sun reported, 'Producers think Chris will be a great addition to the house. He is really entertaining and was one of the most popular and iconic reality contestants with a massive social media following. Execs are hoping he will bring his huge young fanbase with him to the show, along with some juicy tales. He's got loads of showbiz mates and has some famous ex-girlfriends - he'll be brilliant.'
Ella Morgan
Famed for her appearances on Married at First Sight UK and Celebs Go Dating, Ella Morgan's next reality TV rodeo could be Celebrity Big Brother.
One report claimed in November, 'Ella Morgan has had a meeting with ITV producers about appearing in the next series of Celebrity Big Brother. It’s just early talks at this stage but Ella is really up for it and bosses were impressed by her.'
Ella herself has revealed she would be up for the challenge, saying, 'If I could have a wish, it would be to do Strictly but I would also love to do – although I'd be terrible as I'm scared of heights and everything! - I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. That would be great. But also someone showed me there's a petition online to get me into Celebrity Big Brother. I'd want to know who was going in but I would do those three reality shows.'
Annie Kilner
At the beginning of this month, it was claimed that Annie Kilner - the wife of love cheat footballer Kyle Walker - was considering a £750,000 deal to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, on the one condition that her rival Lauryn Goodman would be nowhere near the series.
A source said, 'Annie finally wants to be the one who talks about her marriage. She’s fed up with everyone else having a say. It’s the first time she would have spoken on TV. It would also be a stipulation Lauryn wouldn’t be a surprise guest, as that would be carnage. Annie wants the opportunity to make her own money and wants the public to see her as a woman in her own right, not Kyle’s downtrodden wife.'
It was suggested that producers dropped Lauryn - who is solo parenting the two children she shares with Kyle - for Annie and were even willing to set a new precedent with fees for her.
However, rumours quietened when it was claimed just days later that Annie had not taken bosses up on their offer, owing at large to the fact her youngest son with Kyle, Rezon, is not even a year old yet.
'It's a format which is all talking and pressure, and people don't tend to come out of it all that well. Annie I am sure was flattered by the offer but she isn't going to be taking this one up,' a source alleged, while it was also noted that the WAG is 'more interested' in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Strictly Come Dancing.
Rebekah Vardy
After her Wagatha nemesis Coleen Rooney was a ratings hit in the jungle last year, it has been claimed that Rebekah Vardy would like to replicate the success in the Big Brother house.
'It’s looking very likely that Rebekah Vardy could be doing Celebrity Big Brother. And Becky will be hoping very much to emulate Coleen’s success in the jungle, and turn public opinion around totally, with a stint on the show,' a source said.
They added, 'She would hope for everyone to fall in love with her and be offered exciting projects off the back of it, just as Coleen has experienced with I’m A Celeb - and a primetime show like Celebrity Big Brother would be a great vehicle for a whole host of opportunities.'
Danny Beard
Danny Beard (Daniel Curtis) is no stranger to showbiz, after starting out on Britain's Got Talent in 2016 and progressing to win series four of Ru Paul's Drag Race UK and landing a temporary BBC Radio 1 mid-morning show.
And last month, it emerged that they could have their sights on Celebrity Big Brother, as an insider said, 'It’s early days but Danny Beard is chatting to ITV about going into the Big Brother house. They’re a fan of the show and did a whole week on Late And Live and went down a storm with viewers.'
Paul Chuckle
Paul Elliott - better known as Paul Chuckle - was originally slated for the 2024 iteration of Celebrity Big Brother, but was allegedly dropped for Louis Walsh. In October, reports surfaced that he could star in the upcoming series instead.
'After Louis and Kate Middleton’s ‘Uncle Gary’ Goldsmith were booked, the cast was skewed a little in terms of age. So Paul was dropped. It’s early days as the Big Brother team is still busy with October’s "civilian series" but Paul’s name is in the mix for the celeb version in March,' an insider said.
Amanda Abbington
Actress Amanda Abbington was said to have been offered a large sum to star on the show, but turned it down because of her experience on Strictly Come Dancing.
While a source insisted she had nothing against Celebrity Big Brother and would be tuning in, they explained, 'Amanda decided to discreetly turn down the offer because she felt so traumatised by the last reality TV contest she was on. She couldn’t face going through all the trolling that she received when she complained about Giovanni [Pernice] which made her feel like public enemy number one. Of course, the fee for taking part would have been appreciated but she just couldn’t face it.'
Eamonn Holmes
In the wake of his shock split from wife Ruth Langsford and subsequent relationship with Katie Alexander, The Mirror claimed that bosses wanted Eamonn Holmes on the Celebrity Big Brother line-up, so much so they offered him a six-figure deal.
Per the publication, Eamonn - who relies on a wheelchair to help with his chronic back pain and mobility issues - ultimately turned the offer down for two reasons. A source expanded, 'After giving it some serious thought, he ultimately turned it down. The logistics of navigating the house and needing a wheelchair really concerned him and he didn't feel confident that the support he'd need would be there.
'Eamonn also values his time at home with his partner Katie, and being locked away from her for such a long period wasn’t something he could come to terms with.'
Gary Lineker
Sports broadcaster and former footballer Gary Lineker revealed in December that he had been approached to take part in the upcoming series of Celebrity Big Brother.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary confessed that he'd turned down the offer: 'Do you know, last week I got requested on Celebrity Big Brother. My agent sent it through jokingly, and he replied, "Oh yes, Gary's fee will be £50 million!" He did it completely as a joke, obviously, and they came back and said, "Oh, that's a little bit... it's not within our budget."'
When Alan Shearer joked that he was going to be a target for all the reality shows, Gary quipped, 'I can tell you now, don't bother asking…'.
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture.