The first episode of Celebrity Big Brother aired on Monday night - and a body language expert has revealed what we might able to expect from the contestants.
Last night, names such as EastEnders star Patsy Palmer, singer Chesney Hawkes, US singer JoJo Siwa and talk show host Trisha Goddard entered the famous CBB house.
It’s early days but body language expert Judi James has predicted that Hawkes, 53, will be a favourite with viewers and fellow housemates, due to his “high likeability profile”.
“Chesney’s three key predominant body language cues create a high likeability profile that should make him instantly popular with fans and fellow housemates: his brows steeple in the middle to signal modest geniality; his eyes crease into an authentic eye-smile, and he uses self-effacing gestures,” the expert told Paddy Power Games.
“His clapping and rubbing of his hands suggest he feels he’s set for something of a career comeback, although his awkward-looking thumb hanging in one pocket suggested feigned nonchalance and some inner awkwardness rather than genuine confidence.”
Goddard, 67, who has stage 4 breast cancer, will be the first person to receive cancer treatment while in the house, and James says that her body language last night was courageous.
“Her greeting behaviour involved tactile hand-holding and extended bonding rituals with already some intense-level chats,” James said.
“Her objectives are focused and unselfish, wanting to show other cancer patients that life is still for living, but she will also know Big Brother is a great leveller and an assault course in terms of emotions and behaviours, showing a high level of bravery.”
James also said that Patsy Palmer, 52, might not be feeling as confident inside as the iconic Bianca, who she’s known and loved for on EastEnders.
“Patsy’s overkill smiles on her VT might have suggested extrovert traits but her key ‘tell’ came when she placed two hands over her stomach in an act of self-comfort and self-protection during her interview, that suggested high levels of inner anxiety about the experience,” James said.
It wasn’t a smooth start for Michael Fabricant, 74, the former Conservative MP, who received boos from the crowd during his entrance.
And James suggested that “his greeting traits suggested a desire to keep people at a distance”.
“He kept one hand in his pocket, suggesting a desire to hide or keep his authentic personality hidden behind the ‘fun’ version and he held his arm out to perform distanced handshakes rather than anything more intimate.”
