Big Brother has drawn criticism from viewers after fans claimed ITV did not provide adequate disability access for Charlotte, a quadruple amputee competing in the show’s latest series.
The reality programme returned on Sunday evening with a live launch for its twenty-third series and its fourth since moving to ITV.
Charlotte, an 18-year-old student from Oxford, was among the 16 contestants who entered the west London house. In her introductory VT, she revealed that she lost her hands and feet to meningitis when she was three.
She said she usually wears prosthetic legs and joked that she can sometimes forget why people are looking 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,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte’s arrival initially followed the same format as the other housemates, with contestants driven to an outdoor stage before climbing a short set of stairs to meet presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best.
However, as she stepped out of the car, one of her high-heeled shoes came off. Will quickly went over to help put it back on before the broadcast cut away.
Big Brother viewers criticised ITV after claiming quadruple amputee housemate Charlotte was not given suitable disability access when entering the house
The 18-year-old’s high heel came off as she left the car, prompting host Will Best to rush over and help put it back on
As AJ also moved to assist, Charlotte was heard asking Will, “Can you take them off?” before clarifying: “No, no, my legs.”
With Will’s assistance, Charlotte climbed the stairs to the stage without her prosthetic legs. She told the hosts: “My legs! My shoe came off. I’m so sorry, I had to take my legs off.”
AJ reassured the teenager that there was ‘nothing to apologise for’, as the crowd cheered.
Charlotte then entered the house, shouting out ‘I’m in the Big Brother House with no legs!’ before greeting her housemates and telling them ‘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 the Daily Mail, 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.’
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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.