Newsreader India Willoughby has reportedly signed up to next year’s series of ‘Celebrity Big Brother’.
The 51-year-old newsreader – who was previously known as Jonathan Willoughby before she transitioned into a female – has been approached by bosses of the reality TV show as they’re desperate to persuade her to take part in the forthcoming all-female series in January 2018.
A source told The Sun Online: "India is in talks to sign up for the show- they’d love to land her.
"She’s outspoken would be amazing television."
Producers’ determination to snap her up for the programme comes less than a year after she made television history when she became the nation’s first transgender presenter to host an all-female UK talk show after doing ‘Loose Women’.
Host Ruth Langsford told India in her opening speech: "As far as we know, we are the first all-female talk show to have a transgender presenter and we’re very proud of that and we thank you very much for coming on and doing that for us." Channel 5 are keen to bag some of the biggest names in showbiz – albeit girls only – for the special instalment in order to mark 100 years since women won the right to vote.
An insider said previously: "Channel 5 wants to make a real splash as part of their women’s vote celebrations.
"They are keen to cast opinionated women like Germaine Greer over no-mark reality TV girls who look good but have little to say or bring to the conversation. Bosses are expecting cat fights galore, plenty of tension and clashing personalities."
The twist comes after production company Endemol vowed to refresh the format of the show this year in order to beat its competitor ‘Love Island’ in the ratings war.
Endemol’s Peter Salmon said: "’Big Brother’ has got to last. You have to roll your sleeves up and renew it for a different generation. It is having a tougher ¬competitive time in the UK but it’s huge around the world. ‘Love Island’ has been sensational. If ‘Big Brother’ is not on top form, we have to keep changing it."
India Willougby signs up for Celebrity Big Brother 2018
