Kerry Riches, Big Brother star, has addressed the criticism she unwittingly received when she disclosed in the house that she had previously voted for the Conservatives.
The NHS worker was evicted on Halloween night after being covertly nominated with Dylan Tennant and Olivia Young by the eerily ‘possessed’ Noky Simbani and Trish Balusa.
Kerry said she was ready to leave the ITV2 programme, despite feeling’very, really exhausted’ in the days preceding up to her elimination.
Following her departure, the 40-year-old replied to the hostility directed at her by certain followers when she revealed her political beliefs.
While Kerry stated that she would not vote for the Conservatives if given the opportunity, she apologised to any viewers who were disappointed by her revelation.
‘It’s really real in there. I 100% forgot the cameras, and when you’re asked your political sway, you answer – well I did. It’s worked for me as a family up until now,’ she said.
‘Would I vote for them again? Absolutely not at the moment. No, of course I wouldn’t. But it was a question who you voted for four years ago. It’s a shame if it has [upset people], because I feel like I’m super down to earth, and I wouldn’t ever not vote. Women went through far too much to get us the vote. I wouldn’t not vote.’
The Big Brother star, who left the show ironically dressed as a ‘mummy’ given the maternal role she adopted in the house, continued: ‘I’m sorry if that’s been the case, but I’d like to think that we wouldn’t… we certainly didn’t hold anyone’s political viewpoint against them in the house, and I’d like to think that we’ve moved on from that in the outside world maybe.
‘I’d hate to think that someone wouldn’t like me as a person, because actually a certain political view works for me, works for us as a family.’
Kerry stated that she ‘liked’ hearing opposing viewpoints in the home, such as Paul’s comments regarding Labour and the miners.
‘I get it and like I said, they [the Conservatives] wouldn’t be getting my vote this time, that’s for sure,’ she said.
‘There hasn’t been a General [Election] for some time. I’m so honest. What you see is genuinely what you get. So I wasn’t not going to answer that question, we all did. I’m sorry if it was just my one that got aired, but we all did answer it.’
Another area of disagreement for several viewers was Kerry’s statement about being in a higher tax category and ‘begrudging’ paying a greater percentage.
‘Kerry moaning about being in the highest tax bracket when we’re literally in a cost of living crisis,’ one infuriated viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Reacting to the attention her remarks received, Kerry said: ‘Obviously, I’m not in the higher higher bracket, that’s ridiculous. But there comes a time when you earn over a certain amount of money that you then get taxed 40% on it.
‘Maybe if more people were honest they probably would have been in that tax bracket too.’
Outlining how she’s the breadwinner in her household, Kerry continued: ‘Of course, I’m sorry if it offended anybody, but I’ve worked really hard to get where I am. I started on £7,000 21 years ago as a Band 2 PA and worked hard, and I’m proud of where I’ve got and it’s hard.
‘Within that time as well, I’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It’s difficult as a disabled woman that comes from Essex, talks the way that I do to sit around in a board meeting. I’m proud of where I’ve gotten to, of course I am.’
Kerry has clearly not had the opportunity to watch the full Big Brother season since leaving the house, but she has watched Dylan’s dramatic outburst from yesterday night’s programme, in which he voiced his rage at being nominated for eviction by Noky and Trish, ‘disgusting’ viewers in the process.
She called his diatribe “disappointing,” adding that he’d “done himself no favours.”
On a lighter side, fans may be relieved to learn that Kerry is aware of the bald memes that have been spreading on social media, in which people have modified photographs of her to remove her hair, comparing her to bald characters on TV.
‘I’ve just seen it! The Paddy from Emmerdale. Love it. I’ve seen nothing apart from that one. What an absolute genius,’ she reacted excitedly.
‘I don’t take myself too seriously, I don’t want people to. Life is far too short not to smile. I love to laugh at myself.
‘I was the butt of a lot of jokes in there and I don’t want that to change. I’m super down to earth, I love it and no, thank you – I feel really honoured that someone’s done it. I think it’s amazing.’
Big Brother returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
