A CUMBRIAN journalist who made history when she became the first ever transgender newsreader, is part of the all-female Celebrity Big Brother line-up.
India Willougby, who worked for ITV Border as Jonathan Willoughby, moved from reading the headlines to making them in 2015, when she underwent gender reassignment surgery.
Now working for Channel 4, India has appeared on shows such as Loose Women and Come Dine With Me - where she has received plaudits for her open-book approach to her personal struggles.
Usually she's bringing us the news, but @IndiaWilloughby won't have a clue what's going on in the outside world while she's in the House! 🗞️🙅♀️ #CBBINDIA #CBB pic.twitter.com/baiwwlIMKL
— Big Brother UK (@bbuk) January 2, 2018
In her interview with Host Emma Willis before she entered the Big Brother house, India said: "It took me 50 years to be the woman I am today and no one is taking that away from me.
"I think it is about time women were in charge, don't you?"
Receiving a great response from the audience, India spoke of changing attitudes on transgender, and criticised the coverage of the national press.
People took to social media to express their joy that the transgender community is represented in this year's show.
5th in: India Willoughby! I love her! Think she’s my winner! She’s inspirational! I’m so happy that there’s a transgender woman on this series of #CBB she’s very passionate about what she believes in but it’s in a good way and she’s standing up for the transgender community
— Alice Pennington (@AliceP104) January 2, 2018
Ann Widdecombe, stop being so negative. Let's celebrate all women. Especially India Willoughby. #CelebrityBigBrother
— Jan Renwick (@janandrenwick) January 2, 2018
Really great to see India Willoughby in big brother such a positive woman!
— Zoe (@ZConnie999) January 2, 2018
The Celebrity Big Brother line-up is initially all-female, to celebrate 100 years of women winning the right to vote.
Marked as "the year of the woman", Emma Willis made a number of references to the celebration of women's rights.
This year, Big Brother is in fact 'Big Sister' - as Big Brother is a woman.
The audience was also all female, with no males allowed into the audience - at least initially.
However, this is not the first time the show has started with an all-female house.
The eighth season, which aired in 2007, saw 11 women enter the show initially.
Male housemates will be gradually added to the show, however none were part of the opening episode aired last night.
Among the other housemates are former Tory politican Ann Widdecombe, journalist Rachel Johnson (sister of Boris Johnson), former Made in Chelsea star Ashley James, Ex On The Beach's Jess Impiazzi and actress Amanda Barrie.
The second episode of season 11 will air at the same time of 9pm, on Channel 5 tomorrow.
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