EastEnders fans spot controversial Big Brother star George in recent episode
Big Brother housemate George Gilbert has a secret soap opera past – and EastEnders fans have already clocked him in an episode.
A storm is brewing in the famed house – and it’s all because of the 23 year old parish councillor from Essex.
Despite the new series only kicking off on ITV2 just over a week ago, George has already ruffled the feathers of his new roomies on more than one occasion.
In last night’s episode, he was handed a verbal warning for discriminatory behaviour.
During a game of truth or dare, he was asked to give the qualities of each of his peers that he didn’t like, and proceeded to imitate the hand gestures and voice of 27 year old Zumba instructor, singer and LGBTQ+ rights activist Sam Ashby.
Sam became visibly emotional over the incident, telling Big Brother that he felt mocked ‘as if [he has] some kind of disability’. He also noted that the laughter that followed from the other male housemates reminded him of homophobic abuse he faced at school.
George has also voiced strong opinions on immigration, rights for trans children and homelessness.
But away from Big Brother’s all-seeing eye, George has a hefty showreel of background roles in television and film… including EastEnders.
When was Big Brother’s George in EastEnders?
In March, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) was working a busy shift at family business Beale’s Eels when Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) strolled in.
A group of rowdy lads began to throw food, and the picture of much-missed Martin Fowler (James Bye) was in the firing line.
You guessed it, George was one of the boys causing chaos.
Kojo stepped in to help, but was faced with a tirade of abuse. Concerned for his wellbeing, Peter tried to call Kojo’s brother George Knight (Colin Salmon), with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) picking up the phone.
She stormed over with sister Sonia (Natalie Cassidy), and after noticing a lump of mash potato on Martin’s photo, threatened them with fire extinguishers.
TikTok user Claire wrote ‘Ooooh look, it’s George again from Big Brother..’ alongside a screenshot from the instalment.
What else has George been in?
George’s supporting artist CV doesn’t stop there.
He played a photographer’s assistant in the 2022 film Downton Abbey: A New Era, and has played various roles in two series of ITV2’s The Stand-Up Sketch Show.
Heartstopper fans may have spotted him as a partygoer, and he also played a personal assistant in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
George also has a wealth of parts in television adverts. He can be seen rapping in an advert for Stagecoach buses, and was part of the 2023 Eurovision commercial.
He’s also worked for Adidas and eBay.
One Big Bro fan on TikTok was clearly a bit miffed that someone with as much media experience should be allowed in the house, when they were turned down for the same reason.
‘In my recorded audition for BB this year, they told me I couldn’t mention I was going to be on another tv show before,’ they said.
‘The producers wanted “fresh unknown” people. Absolutely rubbish clearly.’
George isn’t the first housemate to appear in a soap
Quite a lot of this year’s cohort have some form of social media presence, which is the norm for 20-somethings nowadays. Long gone are the days when the show could cast complete unknowns.
Last year, aesthetics business owner and former glamour model Emma Morgan was instantly recognised for her appearances in Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
On both of her Corrie episodes she played a nurse in scenes with show legends Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) and Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine).