Maggie ‘right’ for CBB house says presenter
TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal has defended Celebrity Big Brother’s choice of former detective Maggie Oliver for this year’s series.
Bringing Maggie into the famous TV house has upset some viewers who took to social media to say she shouldn’t be on the Channel Five reality show.
One viewer slammed: “Maggie Oliver? A police officer? Oh god now they are just sending anyone in! Whose next Fireman Sam? where’s the celebs?”
Another tweeted: “Who the hell is Maggie Oliver? Is she a has-been.”
But Rylan, who presents the spin-off show Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, has leapt to her defence.
He tweeted: “And people saying #CBBMaggie isn’t a celebrity…. you’re right… she’s a HERO and we’re lucky to have her. Respect x”
Maggie, from south Manchester, played a crucial role in uncovering the infamous Rochdale sex abuse scandal and before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother she wrote letters to some of the girls affected by the case, explaining why she was making an appearance on the reality show.
Maggie, who resigned from Greater Manchester Police claiming that the force had failed the victims of the scandal, told CBB presenter Emma Willis ahead of entering the famous house: “The last thing I want is for the girls to feel let down by me.
“I’ve written each of them a letter. So girls, you’ll be getting a letter from me tomorrow morning.”
Maggie had been central to the investigation into the Rochdale grooming case and she persuaded vulnerable and reluctant girls to give evidence against the paedophiles who had sexually abused them for years.
Not everyone is opposed to CBB’s choice of having Maggie in the house, with other viewers joining Rylan in hailing her a hero and a credit to the show.
Author Katie Piper tweeted: “Oh wow Maggie Oliver is going in, I hope she talks openly- this is going to be good.”
And CBB watcher Chris Latimer wrote: “This woman Maggie Oliver is a f ****** LEGEND if you’ve never heard of her she’s the one who helped bring public awareness of the Rochdale grooming scandal #CelebrityBigBrother.”
Maggie joins Celebrity Big Brother’s all-female show alongside ex Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Malika Haqq, journalists Rachel Johnson and India Willoughby, DJ and model Ashley James, reality star Jess Impiazzi and former Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie.