Celebrity Big Brother 22, also known as Celebrity Big Brother: Eye of the Storm, was the twenty-second and final series of the British reality television series Celebrity Big Brother. It launched on 16 August 2018 on Channel 5 and ended after 26 days on 10 September 2018. It was the fifteenth celebrity series and twenty-second series of Big Brother overall to air on Channel 5. For the first time since 2011, the celebrity edition aired before the main series with Big Brother 19 launching after the final in September 2018. Celebrity Big Brother 22 was the final celebrity series in the three-year contract which was announced on 19 March 2015. Emma Willis returned as host of the series, while Rylan Clark-Neal continued to present Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side.
On 10 September 2018, Ryan Thomas was announced as the winner of the series, with Kirstie Alley as the runner-up.
On 14 September 2018, it was confirmed that this was the final series of Celebrity Big Brother to air on Channel 5 after their decision to axe the show.
Production
Eye logo
The official logo was released on 18 July 2018 (18 years after the first episode of Big Brother aired on Channel 4) and featured an eye consisting of neon lights including lightning bolts coming out of a stormy background.
Creative team
Endemol confirmed that a new creative team had been formed ahead of the series. Paul Osborne, executive producer of Big Brother 7, returned to overlook the new series as creative director. Tamsin Dodgson was also announced to return as Executive Editor. Trevor Boris was also later hired as a senior producer after co-producing Big Brother Canada since its inception.
House
On 15 August 2018, the official house pictures were released. The house is inspired by Californian design, and has been dubbed "a house within a house". The technical layout of the building has also undergone a revamp since the previous series, and the entry staircase has been closed-off for the first time since Channel 5 took over the Big Brother format, in order to "keep the outside out" according to the creative director Paul Osbourne.
There is also an outdoor lounge at the bottom of the garden, similar to the one in Big Brother 10, compared to Channel 5's usual choice to incorporate the lounge within the main living area. The new living area has a large circular dining table at the centre, with a kitchen counter at one side. There is a leaf-print decor, complemented by palm-style plants and additional seating.
There is one bedroom, located behind the kitchen, with the palm theme continued with blue beds and pink accents. Adjoined to the sleeping quarters is the spare bathroom, which features a roll-top bath and vanity table. In the garden, the snug has been replaced by a "pool room", a plush pink haven where the housemates can relax on padded loungers. The nearby sliding doors open up onto a dual swimming pool and hot tub deck, with which a mini cocktail bar is nearby.
Stormy Daniels
In the months prior to the live launch, there was wide speculation that adult film star Stormy Daniels would enter the house. Despite the reports, she did not enter the house on launch night.
A Big Brother statement issued the following day read: "Stormy Daniels was booked to appear on the show several months ago and hours before the show was due to go live, informed the production team that she no longer wished to enter the house as previously agreed. Producers discussed a variety of options with her but were unable to agree any acceptable conditions for her entering the house. Our focus is now on making a brilliant series with our fantastic celebrities."
Daniels said she offered to appear on the show during the live launch to explain her absence, but was turned down by producers. She also said an interview on Loose Women where she was due to explain her side of the story was blocked by Channel 5.
On the 17 August edition of Bit on the Side, Clark-Neal explained that just five hours before the first live show, Daniels said she only wanted to appear on launch night and then leave. Big Brother tried to agree to a compromise, but nothing came of it. Clark-Neal also insisted that money was not a factor and there was no attempt from producers to try to manipulate Daniels to achieve a specific outcome.
Housemates
On Day 1, thirteen housemates entered the house during the launch.
Ben Jardine
Ben Jardine is a British reality television personality and millionaire property tycoon, best known for his appearance on Channel 4's reality show Married at First Sight in 2017. He entered the house on Day 1. He was the third housemate to be evicted on Day 16.