Celebrity Big Brother 2018 kicks off in style as Emma Willis launches the Year of The Woman theme with all-female cast
CELEBRITY Big Brother host Emma Willis kicked off the spectacular launch show in a glitzy pink coat and heels as she introduced the all-female housemates.
The stars braved the rain as they launched the show tonight with former politician Ann Widdecombe becoming the first contestant to enter the house.
Emma, who amazed fans with her incredible outfit, dropped a swear word as she started the show, saying "I can't bloody wait!"
She kicked off by explaining the Year of The Woman theme - celebrating 100 years since females were given the right to vote.
Emma said: "Eight incredible women are going in, women you never expected to set through these doors....
"Women are in charge, they hold the power.
She went on to reveal two of the rooms are named after leading figures in the Suffragettes - Emmeline Pankhurst and Emily Davidson.
The show was hit by rain, which began to affect the cameras on the outdoor set so Emma had to move the pre-entry interviews inside to get out of the drizzle.
Former MP Ann was the chosen as the first to head down the famous steps and into the newly-redesigned compound.
During her interview, the ex MP said: "I would prefer some men around if I'm honest... but if I have to put up with cackling females [that's fine].
She also explained by she has always turned down the show until they mentioned the "women's lib" theme.
Ann said: "I've always said no and I was saying no this year - I said yes because of the theme.
"It's slightly more serious, it's about women's lib and eventually I said yes."
Ann had a woman with an umbrella help her up the steps to the front door of the house and she turned without waving to head in.
She was astounded as she walked in and compared the decor to an "Ikea showroom".
Celebrity number two was Keeping Up With The Kardashians' Malika Haqq, who told Emma she is "not a feminist, but is pro-women".
She was in the studio with her two young "godsisters" and she cried as she gave them a hug before heading into the house.
Malika, who had to wipe her tears as she stepped into the compound, has already gave viewers a giggle as she walked into the house and asked whether the fake fire was real.
The third star to enter the house was Boris Johnson's sister Rachel.
During the interview, Emma told Rachel that Ann was in the house and the writer/broadcaster revealed they have already met.
She explained that she interviewed the former MP for a magazine a few years ago.
After Rachel entered the house, she was followed by Made In Chelsea star Ashley James, who accidentally flashed her bra in a plunging white suit.
The reality star explained that she signed up to the show once she heard producers were doing the Year of The Woman theme.
The Sun has revealed that Ashley is single and looking for love, so she must be looking forward to Friday when the men enter the house.
Ashley looked stunning as she entered the house
She was followed by transgender newsreader India Willoughby, who burst into tears during an emotional chat with Emma.
India, who was previously known as Jonathan, opened up about her transition and her voice cracked she talked about the support she's had from her mum.
She said: "I know she must miss Jonathan, but she's been an absolute rock."
Former detective Maggie Oliver, who helped expose the Rochdale child sex grooming ring, was next in.
She quit the force claiming hundreds of cases of alleged abuse were mishandled or ignored.
Maggie is now taking her career in a whole new direction by going into CBB, and admitted she's only been signed for three weeks.
She only told her children on Friday, and she wanted to tell all her "Rochdale girls" what she was up to, but has written them all a letter instead.
Maggie was followed by glamour model Jess Impiazzi, who declared stripping off her helped her develop as a feminist.
She wore a long red glittery dress to enter the house and was compared to Jessica Rabbit by the other housemates.
Jess, who told The Sun Online she dumped her fiance before entering CBB, looked overwhelmed as she said goodbye to her mum and Emma and then began breathless introductions in the house.
The last housemate, Amanda Barrie, is the oldest ever at 82.
Emma called the former Coronation Street star an "inspiration" and asked whether she would be partying in the house,
Amanda replied: "I am one of these people who goes, I'm not having a drink and then after 16 Cosmopolitans I go how did that happen?"
After Amanda entered the house, Emma appeared on screen to set them a challenge, but the lights went out and Big Brother apologised for the "technical difficulties".
The lights kept flickering and they were told to all go through a red door, out of the main house.
After the feed cut back to Emma outside, she explained that it wasn't really technical issues causing the black out - it's all part of the first task.
They were split into pairs to tackle a task - fixing a circuit board with a spanner.
Amanda and Jess won and were granted immunity from eviction, but there was disaster for preened reality star Malika, who broke a nail during the challenge.
After the task, Emma made a blunder as she forgot her microphone.
The presenter had to run back into the house and grab it after accidentally leaving it behind after the challenge finished.
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The Sun Online revealed exclusively that the show will start with an all-female cast, but only for the first four days.
Men will be allowed to enter the show on Friday with producers hoping they will “shake up dynamics.”
An insider told The Sun Online: “The show will be women only for four days and then we’ll eventually let some male company in.
“After spending nearly a week forming female bonds and establishing relationships and roles in the house, we’re expecting the boys to really shake up the dynamics – and we’ve got some big personalities entering!”
Love Island hunk Jonny Mitchell was the first male star confirmed for the series.
The other names include R&B star Ginuwine and The Apprentice's Andrew Brady.
During tonight's Bit On The Side show, host Rylan Clark-Neal confirmed footballer John Barnes would also be going in at the end of the week.
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