Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne to have 'inclusion training' before Big Brother

29 February 2024 , 23:30

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Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne to have 'inclusion training' before Big Brother

Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh have been subjected to “respect and inclusion” training ahead of ­appearing on Celebrity Big Brother.

The good chums were known for getting themselves into trouble for their behaviour and comments during their 14-year reign on The X Factor. The network has hugely increased its duty of care measures since the pair were last seen together on the talent show in 2017.

Their training will reinforce to them what is deemed an appropriate “use of language and acceptable ­behaviour” before the series starts on Monday. Louis, 71, had to apologise after comparing a black singer to a little Lenny Henry in 2010, and made Dannii Minogue cry on the judges’ panel in 2008.

Sharon and Louis are known for their fierce tempers

Sharon threw water over Louis in 2005 on the show when he asked if she was taking her rocker husband Ozzy’s drugs. Sharon, 71, also fell out with Dannii, 52, who claimed her fellow judge had to be removed from her dressing room for “screaming and swearing” before filming.

During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show in 2007, Sharon pointed to her backside when asked what Dannii looked like. “I’m going to get into so much trouble,” she joked after mimicking the Aussie pop star. On another occasion, she defaced a wall-mounted studio photograph of Dannii with a picture of a penis, much to the amusement of Louis.

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In 2021, Sharon quit the US show The Talk after 11 years amid a race row after she defended broadcaster Piers Morgan’s criticism of Meghan Markle. Co-host Sheryl Underwood, 60, accused her of giving validation to “racist” views, and network CBS took the show off air while it carried out an investigation.

The dynamite duo will be undergoing training to ensure they remain respectful (ITV / Thames / Syco Entertainmen)

The first rebooted series of CBB will include Fern Britton and Kate Middleton ’s uncle Gary Goldsmith. And all the cast have undergone training in their ­behaviour before entering the house. Ahead of last year’s regular series, which was won by Jordan Sangha, ITV stipulated: “Housemates are provided with and talked through the Housemate rules, which set out expectations and explain key aspects of life in the Big Brother House.”

• In 2009, she had to apologise for saying Susan Boyle looked like “a hairy a***hole” who was “hit with the ugly stick”.
• She described Dannii Minogue as “not a girl’s girl” but a “man’s thing”.
• In 2000, she quit as the Smashing Pumpkins manager after three months: “I must resign due to medical reasons. Billy Corgan is making me sick.”
• Described Mother Teresa as “an ugly old c*** in sandals”.
• On Madonna: “I’d like to punch her’, on Michael Douglas: “Another terrible face job.”
• In 2019, she said she sacked a staff member for not showing humour during a house fire.
• In 2004, during the final of X Factor, she said of winner Steve Brookstein: “He’s full of crap, an average singer… He’s a fake.”

Ashleigh Rainbird