Celebrity Big Brother viewers have criticised a flirty comment made by Chris Hughes towards fellow housemate JoJo Siwa.
The former Love Island star, 32, and the US singer, 21, have formed a close bond in the house, with Hughes previously defending Siwa after Mickey Rourke made homophobic remarks about her.
Their friendship has grown so strong that Hughes has referred to Siwa as his “girlfriend” on the show. But during a challenge in last night’s episode, he raised eyebrows when he said it was a “turn on” watching Siwa memorise a long list of items — a remark that didn’t sit well with all viewers.
Hughes is currently single, while Siwa is in a relationship with partner Kath Ebbs, who is non-binary.
“Did Chris just say Jojo remembering the list in the game they’re playing is a big turn on?” one viewer asked.
Meanwhile, another said it was “the ick”. They wrote: “Chris… feel like that just gave Jojo the ick. ‘Big turn on that’.”
Another added that they felt “Chris is being too much now” towards Siwa.
On Wednesday’s episode, Hughes described that the pair are like “two peas in a pod”.
“If she left the house ever and I'd be stuck in here that would genuinely be crushed,” he said.
“I guess she's like my person in here. When you walk into a party you don't know anyone, there's someone you want to see in the room that makes you want to feel at ease.
“It makes me feel happy it makes me feel comfortable and it allows me to be me, it really brings out me, I like me, I like being me and I'll always be me and it takes someone to get you. We're like two peas in a pod.”
On Tuesday, Trisha Goddard became the second contestant to be evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother house.
The TV presenter lost to EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer and Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd, who had also been nominated for the public vote on the ITV reality series.
Goddard left on Tuesday’s episode, and was greeted by cheers of “Trisha, Trisha, Trisha”, which the audience on her former talk show used to chant.
She said she was feeling “a bit sad” when she departed after revealing during the latest instalment that she wanted to stay in the show as it was a “respite” from her cancer diagnosis.
