• [Dailystar Icon]
• TV
• Big Brother

Celebrity Big Brother legend exposes 'filthy' side of living in iconic ITV house

EXCLUSIVE: Coleen Nolan has lifted the lid on the grim reality of life inside the Big Brother house, from filthy living conditions to mental torture admitting shed never do it again

[Coleen]

Coleen has done the show twice(Image: Channel 5)

Celebrity Big Brother legend Coleen Nolan has revealed the grim reality of life inside the famous reality TV house.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Star as she promoted her new tour, the Loose Women star admitted the experience was far from glamorous, describing it as mental torture and the hardest thing Ive ever done.

There were 22 people in there and only two toilets, Coleen revealed. Thats a lot of people, and they dont even lock. The doors open outwards, so you cant shut them properly. Privacy doesnt exist.

But it wasnt just the bathroom situation that made life unbearable. Its all those little things that grate on you over time, no music, no pens, no paper, no books. You just have each other, she explained.

On telly, it looks like Big Brothers always talking to you, but really, its maybe an hour a day at most. The rest of the time, youre just sitting there. Its filthy too, that sends you a bit crazy. People dont see those bits.

[Coleen]

Coleen said the house was "filthy"

Even the simplest tasks became a nightmare. Once a week, they let you do your washing. One hour, 22 people. What washing machine can handle that? she laughed. All the towels are the same size and colour, so they all get mixed up. You get out of the shower and someones taken yours, so youre left with a wet one. Its those tiny things that drive you mad.

Despite describing the show as a brilliant social experiment, Coleen says the mental strain was overwhelming. They couldnt ever offer me enough money to do that again, she said. It looks easy on TV, but its the most mentally hard thing Ive ever done. Absolute mental torture.

[Coleen]

Coleen really struggled with living in the house(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

The 60-year-old star admitted she underestimated the intensity before signing up. Before I went in, I used to watch it and think, Oh for Gods sake, youre just sitting in a house, shut up. But once youre in there, you realise its so much more than that. It took me a long time to get over it when I came out.

Would I go back? Never, she added. Once is enough for a lifetime.

Coleen hits the road again in February 2026 with her This Is Me live show which promises a warm, hilarious night thats every bit as real as the TV star herself. For more info and tickets please visit here.

Tour dates

• February 18th Leeds City Varieties
• February 20th St Helens Citadel
• February 21st Gateshead Sage 2
• February 23rd Apex, Bury St Edmunds
• February 24th London Union Chapel
• February 25th Wimborne Tivoli
• February 27th Manchester RNCM

Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here.

Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.