The new season of Big Brother UK has officially launched, and with it comes a historic milestone: the introduction of a trans male housemate. Zelah Glasson, a 25‑year‑old personal trainer from South London, enters the competition on September 28, 2025. The season itself has been extended to a 48‑day run, making it the longest in the show’s ITV history.
AJ Odudu and Will Best return as hosts for Season 22, guiding viewers through the live launch, day‑to‑day tasks, and live evictions. From the outset, producers made clear that this edition would lean hard into LGBTQ+ representation: the season features contestants identifying as he/she/they, a pansexual woman, and a bisexual man, alongside Zelah as the first trans male housemate.
Meet Zelah: Personal Trainer, Trans Advocate, Social Creator
Zelah Glasson describes himself as a fitness coach with a mission: to support workouts tailored for transgender individuals and women. Before joining the show, he transitioned later in life—he lived as a woman for 23 years before beginning his transition—and has spoken publicly about having undergone a bilateral mastectomy. He revealed that the procedure involved “removing the breast tissue through two incisions … then removing the nipples … reshaping and re‑attaching them.”
On social media, Zelah commands substantial followings: 87.6k followers on TikTok and 40.9k on Instagram (his account is currently private). In his introductory video for Big Brother, he quipped, “I constantly get compared to a spaniel dog,” and admitted, “I’m pretty unbearable if I don’t get my 12,000 steps a day.” He also opened up about the burdens of mainstream trans narratives, saying, “Being trans, I think that a lot of the media narrative at the moment is taken out of our hands, and it will be nice to re‑centre that and retake control. Shows like Big Brother show the normality of people – you can’t get more personal than watching someone 24/7.”
Several early fan reactions have already crowned Zelah a frontrunner. During the premiere, fans on social platforms declared him their “winner,” even before any competition had begun. One fan tweeted, “He’s already an ICON!!” in reference to his entrance and presence.
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The Diverse Cast Around Him
The full cast of Season 22 reflects a wide spectrum of backgrounds, ages, and professions. Among the 12 initial entrants (with additional arrivals later), here is a snapshot of a few:
- Sam, 27, from Skipton: a he/she/they‑identifying Zumba instructor and musician.
- Nancy, 22, graduate from Glasgow (born in Italy): pansexual and fluent in five languages.
- Gani, 39, a Pizza Hut manager from Bromley: bisexual and active in keeping a steady routine.
- Teja, 18, from Bristol: she runs a cleaning business with her mother and entered for the prize potential.
- Emily, political events manager from Northampton: she became the first evictee of the season.
- Caroline, former PR agent from Canvey Island: she was involved in the first‑night twist.
- Cameron, farmer from Taunton: participated in recent farming protests and hopes to bring leadership.
- Tate, 27, Falkirk: runs “Butler in the Buff” and positions himself as an entertainer.
- Marcus, mechanical engineer from Manchester: seeks to bring energy and fun.
- Elsa, 21, photographer/content creator from Essex: enters to forge deeper connections with others.
- Jenny, 20, Derry‑based makeup artist: brings humour and creative flair.
Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best have high-visibility roles this season. Both will moderate the live launch, oversee nominations, and host the eviction nights. The companion shows Big Brother: Late & Live and Big Brother: Live Stream return, offering a nightly recap and 24/7 coverage on ITV2 and ITVX. Production is handled by Initial (Banijay UK) under Katy Manley, with Jody Collins and Tamsin Dodgson in key oversight roles.
First‑Night Twist and the Exit Room Eviction
The season wasted little time in injecting drama. During the live launch, each housemate was given a symbolic eye. The public voted to curse one (“evil eye”), placing them in danger. The five names revealed were Nancy, Cameron, Caroline, Emily, and Sam. Big Brother then declared Nancy and Cameron safe, leaving Caroline, Emily, and Sam in jeopardy.
In a twist, those three were led into the “Exit Room,” tasked with deciding which one of them would be evicted. Big Brother told them, “The audience voted you here, but the final decision on who leaves tonight is not in their hands. It’s in yours.” Each made appeals: Caroline said, “I’ll go cause you two are young”; Emily pleaded, “I think I should stay because obviously it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity … I’m young and this is just absolutely crazy for me”; Sam admitted, “I’ve wanted to do this my whole life … but … I feel that’s really selfish.”
The votes were cast: Caroline and Sam both selected Emily for eviction; Emily chose Caroline. With two votes against her, Emily became the first evictee of Season 22. Emily later reflected publicly, stating, “Things need to change. We need to normalize mainstream right‑wing opinions. And I just don’t understand how that isn’t happening.” She criticized the fact that many reality stars avoid non‑left political expression for fear of cancellation or backlash.
Why Zelah’s Participation Matters in Season 22
Zelah’s casting is not just symbolic; it’s part of a broader effort by the show to diversify representation. Season 22 features major LGBTQ+ inclusion from the start: among the new cast are contestants with queer, pansexual, bisexual, and nonbinary identities. Zelah is the first trans male in Big Brother UK since the 2023 ITV reboot.
His intention is clear: to reclaim the narrative about trans people instead of allowing the media to define it for him. He told fans he would reinvest any winnings into his fitness business and gift a holiday to his girlfriend. Zelah’s voice already has resonance: several social media users have flooded Instagram and TikTok with supportive messages, calling him an icon, fire emoji after fire emoji, and “winner.”
Additionally, his humour and openness help disarm viewers. His quip about bathrooms—“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?”—drives home both vulnerability and strength.
Outlook: Competition, Conflicts & Watch Points
Even before the first nominations, Zelah was targeted. On Day 2, four late entrants—Cameron B, Feyisola, George, and Richard—were instructed to grant the first “evil eye” to a participant, and they selected Zelah. The public then votes to save rather than evict. Throughout 42 episodes over the 48-day stretch, nominations, tasks, and evictions will shape the trajectory.
The voting rules and alliances will be tested early. Zelah must forge connections quickly to survive. His visibility and backstory already give him momentum—but Big Brother is as much about strategy as it is identity. Will he be safe behind solidarity, or will early targeting weaken him? In a house packed with ambition and varied identities, Zelah’s journey will be one of both personal and competitive stakes.
As the longest season yet on ITV, Big Brother UK season 22 is putting representation front and center—and Zelah’s place within it may be one of the most consequential storylines. With the public already rallying behind him, we’ll see whether the housemates inside and viewers outside keep him safe. The battle for power, perception, and politics is underway.
Big Brother UK continues nightly at 9 pm BST on ITV2 and streams via ITVX. Stay tuned for eviction nights, surprise twists, and the ongoing evolution of this fiercely contested season.
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