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PLAYING UP?
I don’t know if I believe ‘fake’ Ekin-Su or not after nomination chaos, ex CBB winner tells our podcast
Listen to our exclusive interview with CBB winner James Hill in our podcast video
A FORMER Celebrity Big Brother winner has admitted he isn't sure if Ekin-Su Culculoglu is as genuine as she's making out.
The Love Island star was an early front-runner in the house, wasting no time in getting to know her fellow housemates.
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But after clashing with several stars who raised her Love Island past and making a surprise move in last night's nominations by choosing ally Louis Walsh, viewers are starting to doubt her authenticity.
Among them is series 16 winner James Hill, who features on the Sun's latest, in association with .
Speaking on behalf of he said: "I quite like Ekin-Su. I do watch Love Island quite a bit, my partner loves it and I have a few friends who have been on the show as well.
"I thought she was a character on Love Island. She reminds me a little bit of myself where she's very interested in people, she asks a lot of questions, which is nice to see because in that house that's all you have, you have other people to be interested in."
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"I just don't know whether I believe it all or not. Sometimes she comes across as though she's a good actress but I do genuinely think she's a good person and very interested in people."
James, 36, shot to fame on The Apprentice in 2014, finishing in ninth place.
The following year he walked into the CBB house in a special edition of the series that pitted UK stars against American ones.
He was up against huge names such as porn star Jenna Jameson, model Janice Dickinson and rapper Fatman Scoop, but ultimately it was him who walked out victorious.
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He said: "Anybody that wants to make a career out of being on television you have to give it a 100 per cent and all of these shows are fantastic platforms.
"I'm a genuine believer in you are who you are and if you portray yourself in a real light and if the people like you then you know you've got every chance of having a good career going forward.
"You've got to be yourself and take every opportunity as it comes."
Celebrity Big Brother fans baffled as Ekin-Su develops American accent - as Fern claims she 'absorbs personalities'
Much has been made of this series' guest lodger Sharon Osbourne.
The rock music manager pocketed a huge £500k for a week's work and had special privileges like her own bedroom and lie-ins.
James said money wasn't discussed between contestants during his series, but he wouldn't have begrudged Sharon getting a bumper deal.
Speaking on behalf of , he said: "It's Sharon Osbourne. I mean, come on, she's a living legend. What a woman. I mean I've thoroughly enjoyed watching her, I must say.
"It's a shame that she's gone. I think her and Louis have been a fantastic duo and really good to watch.
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"The thing is for me, I'm very grounded and level-headed, I accept who I am, I never really spoke or though is someone getting paid more than me.
"I don't look at life like that, I went in with an open mind and got on with the process as if we're all equal."
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Who has won Celebrity Big Brother?
THE first Celebrity Big Brother aired in March 2001 on Channel 4.
Roll on 23 years and a switch to Channel 5 in 2011, CBB is now into its 23rd season and is being hosted for the first time by ITV.
Here's who has won the coveted title so far:
Season 1 (2001): Comedian Jack Dee beat actress Claire Sweeney despite walking out of the house and evading security for about an hour. The series was also more memorable for Vanessa Feltz telling Big Brother to "f*** off" after chalking “incarcerated”, “ambushed” and “restricted” on the table.
Season 2 (2002): Take That favourite Mark Owen triumphed over TV host Les Dennis. The latter won over the sympathy of the audience after his marriage breakdown to wife Amanda Holden.
Season 3 (2005): Maraca shaking Bez walked out the winner ahead of Blazin' Squad's Kenzie. The Happy Mondays star scooped the £50,000 and went on 10-hour bender, blowing the cash.
Season 4 (2006): This was the season when Big Brother really mixed things up - by sending in a non-celebrity from fictional band Kandy Floss. However, Chantelle Houghton won over viewers and housemates alike and was crowned the winner. During her time in the house she found love with Ordinary Boys singer Preston. There was also added drama when George Galloway pretended to be Rula Lenska's pet cat.
Season 5 (2007): Actress Shilpa Shetty won after being caught up in a racism bullying row with former BB contestant Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd, and S Club's Jo O'Meara.
Season 6 (2009): Ulrika Jonsson beat Terry Christian, but controversy came in the form of rapper Coolio who was slammed by viewers as misogynistic, however he finished in third spot.
Season 7 (2010): Alex Reid beat Dane Bowers and Vinnie Jones with a huge 65% of the vote. Alex married Katie Price one month later.
Season 8 (2011): In the first series to air on Channel 5, Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty was the unexpected winner, beating singer Kerry Katona.
Season 9 (2012): Loose Women star Denise Welch triumphed over X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza, after stripping off while drunk and jumping into the hot tub topless.
Season 10 (2012): Comedian Julian Clary got the nod in the vote over Coleen Nolan.
Season 11 (2013): The X Factor's Rylan Clark beat couple Heidi Montag
& Spencer Pratt, who were competing as "one entity" and known as Speidi.
Season 12 (2013): Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby beat 5ive singer Abz Love
Season 13 (2014): Jim Davidson won after a a blazing row with Linda Nolan. N-dubz Dappy took second spot.
Season 14 (2014): Gary Busey - who chose to roam around the CBB house naked - beat boxer Audley Harrison.
Season 15 (2015): Katie Price won the battle of the Katies as she saw off controversial Katie Hopkins in the final. The biggest talking point was American blogger's Perez Hilton's raging row with Calum Best, but the series also saw two early ejections of Jeremy Jackson and Ken Morley.
Season 16 (2015): Apprentice star James Hill beat model Austin Armacost. Tila Tequila was evicted on just the second day after she was found to have posted support for Adolf Hitler on social media.
Season 17 (2016): Geordie Shore's Scotty T won after sharing a kiss with fellow housemate Tiffany Pollard. Stephanie Davis was runner-up.
Season 18 (2016): Stephen Bear won the show despite a huge row with radio star James Whale. Ricky Norwood placed second but this season saw Christopher Biggins ejected from the house after making an anti-Semitic joke.
Season 19 (2017): Coleen Nolan entered the CBB house for a second time - and this time came out the winner beating Jedward. During her second stint she had a massive showdown with horse star John McCririck.
Season 20 (2017): It was the battle of the reality show singers in the final, with Popstars: The Rivals winner and Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding beating The X Factor's Amelia Lily.
Season 21 (2018): Courtney Act, otherwise known as Shane Jenek, won with politician Ann Widdecombe runner-up.
Season 22 (2018): Winning Dancing On Ice in 2024, was not Ryan Thomas's first reality show title. He won the CBB title in 2018, after a shocking "run-in" with Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallet, who falsely accused him of punching her. Actress Kirstie Alley came second.
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