Celebrity Big Brother and First Dates in shock crossover as former housemate attempts to find love in show first

CELEBRITY Big Brother and First Dates will air a shock crossover tonight as a former housemate attempts to find love.

India Willoughby has enlisted the help of Fred Sirieix and Merlin Griffiths.

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The former Channel 5 newsreader shot to fame when she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother's Year of the Woman series in 2018.

But after turning her attention to trans activism in recent years, India will return to screens tonight as she enters the First Dates restaurant.

In an exclusive first look at the show's Be My Valentine spin-off, the 58-year-old says: "I love romance but I don't want to be a tick on the bed post and used basically.

"I want to find love, who doesn't?"

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After ordering a Sexy Beast cocktail, India disclosed to Merlin that she's never had a date before - or a kiss - as a woman.

Explaining her typical Valentines Day, she revealed: "I sit at home with a takeaway watching a romcom.

"My mum sends me a card but I've kinda sussed who's doing it now."

In an exclusive chat with The Sun, India admitted she was apprehensive about signing up for First Dates.

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The journalist said: "It was really terrifying stepping into the restaurant.

"I wasn't desperate to meet someone, you know - I've kept myself a secret for half of my life so by the time of transitioning I was just so busy with fighting to exist, as is the experience of most trans people, so there wasn't any drive to meet somebody. But this was still a dive into the deep end."

She continued: "I put a lot of thought into the conversation about my past, because it's always a dilemma.

"You know if any woman went on a date, they wouldn't be starting it by saying 'Hi, my name's Barbara and I've got a plastic hip or a false knee of these boobs, they were £5,000.'

"It would be an insane opening line, so it felt incumbent to say 'Hi, I'm India, and I'm trans'.

"I just wanted it to be a normal date. So when I knew it was going well, that he was a trustworthy, receptive type of individual, then I opened up about it."

While it remains to be seen how India and her mystery man get on, she has her eye on Fred.

She told us: "Fred is an absolute charmer - he's got a real twinkle in his eye, and he greeted me with such a radiant, bright smile and his arms stretched out.

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"He's good-looking, and he's got a good body - he's the right age for me too, but unfortunately he's already engaged... I'll have to find someone else."

First Dates: Be My Valentine is on Channel 4 at 9pm.

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