ITV’s Big Brother has faced criticism from viewers who believe the programme failed to provide suitable disability access for Charlotte, a housemate who is a quadruple amputee.
The reality show returned on Sunday night with a live launch for its 23rd series and its fourth season on ITV.
Among the 16 contestants entering the west London house was Charlotte, an 18-year-old student from Oxford. In her introductory video, she revealed that she lost both her hands and feet to meningitis when she was three.
Charlotte said she regularly wears prosthetic legs and joked that she sometimes forgets why people are staring at her. “I’ll be like, ‘Oh my God, I must be looking quite nice today!’ and then I remember it’s actually because I’ve got no limbs,” she said.
Her entrance was planned in the same way as those of the other housemates. Charlotte was driven to the outdoor stage and expected to climb a short set of steps before meeting presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best.
However, as she got out of the car, one of her high heels came off. Will hurried over and attempted to put the shoe back on before the camera cut away.
ITV’s Big Brother has been criticised by fans for apparently failing to provide quadruple amputee housemate Charlotte with suitable disability access to the house
The 18-year-old’s high heel came off as she stepped out of the car, prompting host Will Best to rush over and try to put it back on
As AJ also moved in to help, Charlotte could be heard asking Will, “Can you take them off?” She then clarified: “No, no, my legs.”
With Will’s assistance, Charlotte climbed the steps and reached the stage without her prosthetic legs. She then told the presenters: “My legs! My shoe came off. I’m so sorry, I had to take my legs off.”
AJ reassured the teenager that she had “nothing to apologise for” as the audience applauded and cheered.
Charlotte later entered the Big Brother house, calling out, “I’m in the Big Brother House with no legs!” After meeting her fellow contestants, she explained: “It’s a long story, my heel broke and I had to take my legs off.”
Viewers criticised the show, pointing out the apparent lack of adapted access for Charlotte.
‘Big Brother being quick to cast disabled people but failing to make the house entrance accessible is just an absolute mockery,’ wrote one on X.
‘No are you actually joking?! THEY DIDNT PLAN AN ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE FOR CHARLOTTE????’ agreed another.
In a statement sent to Our News Outlet, a Big Brother spokesperson said: ‘Prior to Charlotte’s entrance to the House, we worked closely with her and a specialist access co-ordinator to understand her access requirements and agree, with her, the arrangements for her entrance and time in the House.’
As AJ rushed over to help too, Charlotte could be heard asking Will ‘can you take them off?’ before clarifying ‘no, no my legs.
Charlotte then made her way up the stairs to the stage without her prosthetic legs, telling AJ and Will: ‘My legs! My shoe came off. I’m so sorry, I had to take my legs off’
Charlotte, an 18-year-old student from Oxford, explained in her introductory VT that she lost her hands and feet to meningitis at the age three
‘A plan was put in place based on those discussions and agreed with Charlotte; however, she had an unforeseen issue with her shoe.’
The Daily Mail understands that ITV offered Charlotte the use of a ramp, but she said she would prefer to use the stairs. Will also rehearsed the entrance with Charlotte.
The house has had a number of changes made to it to ensure it fully meets Charlotte’s accessibility requirements and ITV consulted Charlotte and a specialist access co-ordinator prior to the launch to ascertain her needs.
It’s thought Charlotte spoke with Big Brother after the live launch who confirmed she was OK.
Charlotte is currently favourite to win the show and the £100,000 prize fund according to the latest odds from Coral, who place her at 5-1.
Fans watching on X declared: ‘Okay Charlotte is already an icon,’ adding ‘CHARLOTTE to win!’
Viewers criticised the show, pointing out the apparent lack of adapted access for Charlotte
Before entering the House, Charlotte revealed she would buy herself a new pair of prosthetic legs if she won the £100,000, explaining: ‘my prosthetic legs are about £25,000 per leg, so probably put half in savings and half on that.’
She added what she hopes viewers will take away from her time on the show, pointing out: ‘Obviously, as a quadruple amputee, people are surprised at anything I do, even normal things like cooking, doing my makeup, getting dressed, stuff like that.’
‘And obviously they’re going to be watching me 24 hours a day so they’re going to see me do all those things.’
‘They’re probably going to be surprised at the most normal things for me, those are going to be the most shocking for everybody watching.’
Big Brother airs nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
