Celebrity Big Brother fans blast lineup for ‘blowing budget’ on Sharon Osbourne

Celebrity Big Brother got off to an explosive start but viewers at home were complaining about the lineup, with one person writing: "This lineup is awful #CBBUK."

Long-time fans of the show moaned the word "celebrity" had been "stretched" with the Celebrity Big Brother stars - with many viewers even googling who the people were. Some viewers were sure TV bosses had "spent all the budget" on Sharon Osbourne, meaning they were unable to secure any other big names.

Social media was awash with the complaints from viewers at home. Among the comments, one fan wrote: "The good thing about all these ad breaks is it’s giving me time to google these alleged celebrities. CBBUK."

Osbourne may only be in the Celebrity Big Brother house for one week but the reality star was delighted to be reunited with her friend and TV colleague Louis Walsh on the show, whom she starred on The X Factor with for many years.

Fern Britton was once a huge name on daytime TV, having fronted This Morning for a decade until she quit in 2009 after she famously fell out with Phillip Schofield - who has since stepped down from his role following his "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague.

As Kate Middleton's uncle, Gary Goldsmith was arguably the most controversial signing this year. Millionaire Goldsmith hasn't held back when discussing the royals before and it's unlikely he will hold his tongue in Celebrity Big Brother. Moments into his introduction, Goldsmith name dropped Kate saying she was "simply perfect".

Colson Smith is a household name in the UK too - having made his name in the showbiz world on one of the best British soaps Coronation Street. By contrast, there were some fewer known names signed up to the show too including presenter and YouTuber Zeze Millz as well as Broadway and West End star Marisha Wallace. Another fan wrote: "Google doing the heavy lifting for the 4 I don't know and never seen in my life #CBBUK."

Others wrote: "#CBB #CBBUK I wished they would tell us properly who the people are. I am half-hearing the names, but they are drowned out by the cheering noises. I have had to google almost all of them to find out their names properly. Why don’t they put the names in subtitles on the screen?"

"It is an underwhelming lineup on paper but Celebrity Big Brother has never been about big names. Many of its most memorable moments have been from lesser known housemates! I'm super keen to see how this lot get on #CBBUK."

"The word celebrity is reallllly getting stretched with this lineup #CBBUK."

"That’s why the lineup is so underwhelming. They spent all the budget on the Sharon cameo."

"Welp, not gonna lie, I am a bit underwhelmed by that lineup. Not many celebrities I care enough about to watch. #CBBUK."

"ITV completing the lineup after blowing the budget on Sharon Osbourne. #CBBUK."

"Switching off. This is a terrible lineup. I won’t be watching. #CBBUK."

"This is an awful lineup. You would have thought with the move to ITV there’d be a bit of bigger budget especially when the series last year was so successful but these are scraping the barrel. #CBBUK #BBUK."

It wasn't all bad news though as some viewers were surprised to see that others were complaining about the lineup on social media. Others had no qualms sharing their honest opinion that TV bosses had got it right with the "great lineup".

Some people wrote: "Seen so many people saying they aren’t impressed with the lineup… I think it’s quite good? Some of the people this year wouldn’t have done it on C5 #CBBUK."

"Amazing #cbbuk launch night and a great lineup! So so glad the show is back and love that the launch is live again!"

"I genuinely don't think this lineup is as bad as some people are making out. I think it could've done with at least one more bigger name, especially given Sharon's short stay, but we've seen far worse. #BBUK #CBBUK #CBB."

Read more

• Celebrity Big Brother gets off to explosive start as 3 stars at risk of eviction

• Celebrity Big Brother lineup revealed from Sharon Osbourne to Fern Britton