It's been over 20 years since Nadia Almada captured the hearts of the nation and was crowned Big Brother's first transgender contestant to win the reality show. Luke Anderson went on to win in 2012, again making history as the first trans man to do so.
For fans of the format – which has enjoyed many iterations on UK screens, but first launched on Channel 4 alongside the dulcet tones of an enthusiastic Davina McCall – Big Brother has always been a safe space. It's had an authentic inclusivity that's not really been captured as consistently on any other mainstream reality formula. Quite honestly, it's become an integral part of the show's DNA – something that ITV has so-far managed to translate in the two civilian series that have broadcast there.
The 2025 line-up is another glistening example of welcoming those from all walks of life, with Zelah already shining bright as an early standout. While we'd be hesitant to place the burden of representing an entire community on the shoulders of one person, his appearance as an openly proud trans person comes at a time when it's really needed. We said the same of Hallie last year, and the natural conversations that she sparked – which included personal lived experience of accessing gender affirming care – was vital for many listening at home (as well as those inside the walls of the house).
Against the backdrop of a society where unhelpful rhetoric about bathrooms has only continued to increase, with basic rights under threat and more recently the Supreme Court ruling (via BBC News), trans voices are rarely platformed fairly or in good faith – despite being constantly presented as part of some sort of 'debate' in the media. Trans men and transmasculine folk are also rarely even acknowledged in those conversations.
Since entering the house (and it's only been two days!), Zelah has already been part of some of the best scenes – just by being himself. In his introductory VT, he joked that he is "living proof that being transgender is not a choice", because "why would I choose to go from the luxury, the sanctuary, that is the women's toilets, to the horror that is the men's?"
The fly-on-the-wall style of the show also means that audiences get to see for themselves the varying ways that LGBTQ+ people might need to navigate situations that others wouldn't even have to think twice about. During Tuesday's episode, a number of the housemates took advantage of the hot tub in the garden, meanwhile Zelah was seen in the Diary Room talking about the visible scars on his chest.
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He explained that while he remains proud of them, he said that he found himself "probably for the first time ever feeling a bit self-conscious".
While Zelah went into the house as openly trans – revealing that he hoped his appearance on the show would "re-centre" the narrative that is often perpetuated in the media about trans people – he hasn't yet told his housemates.
In the Diary Room, Zelah explained that while his transition will "naturally come up" when his fellow contestants start to ask questions about his life in order to get to know him, he wanted to make a "conscious decision" to "let people make their first impressions of me outside of my gender identity..."
And this is the thing; nobody is owed that part of you, and choosing when to come out – if at all – can be a constant navigation for those in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly when entering new spaces and meeting new people. But just by taking part in Big Brother, Zelah is doing something important.
The reaction to Zelah has proven even more special, having been overwhelmingly positive. The comment sections on Big Brother's Instagram account are filled with support for the new TV star, with many name-checking him as a favourite and exclaiming that he's already in their running to win. This feels like it really speaks to the inclusive attitude of the Big Brother fandom, capturing the spirit of the show.
Whether he actually gets voted in first place after making it to the final remains to be seen, but what is clear is that Zelah's time in that famous house is going to be a win for both the LGBTQ+ community and anyone that's tuning in to enjoy the new series.
Big Brother continues tonight on ITV2 at 9pm.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
