Ekin-Su withdrawn from CBB final appearance

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu will reportedly not make an appearance in tonight's Celebrity Big Brother final, much to the disappointment of fans expecting further drama.

The 29-year-old Love Island star has kept herself out of the spotlight since her toe-curlingly awkward interview following her exit from the Big Brother house, which you can revisit below:

During her post-exit catch-up with hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best, she both branded former co-star Marisha Wallace 'fake' for voting for her and said producers 'fixed' the show to present her in a certain light.

Despite having been removed from the house just moments earlier, Ekin-Su said: "You haven’t seen everything, they’ve cut stuff out.

"I’m just hurt that I wasn’t portrayed as myself on the show."

But, AJ was quick to hit back, reminding the star that she hadn't watched a single episode.

"It's interesting because you've literally just walked out of the house!" she said in a tense moment.

TikTok/@bbuk

"You don't know what's been seen, what's been said. But I can assure you that everything that has been seen and has been said, has been said by you!"

Many said they felt Ekin-Su had been treated unfairly on the Late & Live show, with 139 people complaining to Ofcom about 'the treatment of Ekin-Su by the presenters and guest panel'.

Former CBB host Davina McCall even waded in, telling Virgin Radio UK: "What you have to appreciate about people that go in there, is that Big Brother asked [them] to go in there.

"So in a way, we have a duty of care to look after the people when they come out, no matter how they behaved."

Now, it's been reported that Ekin-Su has 'refused to reunite with the cast' and hosts at tonight's final (22 March).

A source told Tyla: "It’s been a bit of a tough couple of weeks for Ekin-Su.

"She could have played the sob story card but has remained tight-lipped publicly.

"Understandably she is feeling vulnerable, but is using this time to gather her thoughts, and figure out next steps, which is why her management believes withdrawing her from the final is the most sensible move.

ITV

"She has asked the team for some time to reflect which everybody is on board with."

A source for ITV has since added: "Ekin has been a part of some of ITV’s biggest shows over the last two years, including Love Island, Dancing on Ice, her own spin off show with Davide, and now Celebrity Big Brother.

"As such a lot of the team there feel very protective towards her, and it’s a real shame she won’t be at the final."

Tyla has contacted both ITV and Ekin-Su's representatives for further comment.

Tonight's final will see either former X Factor judge Louis Walsh, Coronation Street actor Colson Smith, This Morning star Fern Britton, reality star David Potts or Strictly Come Dancing pro Nikita Kuzmin win the 2024 series of Celebrity Big Brother.

You can watch the final live at 9pm on ITV.