Australia’s Courtney Act to compete in Celebrity Big Brother UK

Australia’s favourite drag export will be heading back to reality television, when she enters the Celebrity Big Brother UK house later this week.

Courtney Act has become an international reality staple, first appearing on our own Australian Idol before almost snatching the crown from Bianca Del Rio in Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2015.

Act will not be the first Drag Race star to enter the CBBUK house, with judge Michelle Visage placing fifth in last year’s round.

The performer, who is known as Shane Jenek out of drag, will be joining Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, bisexual ballet star Wayne Sleep, former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe and the UK’s first trans newsreader India Willoughby.

Willoughby, who came out last year, has already stirred some controversy heading into the house – saying that drag performers such as RuPaul cheapen her experience as a transgender person.

Act has also previously been at loggerheads with RuPaul, having been blocked on Twitter by the reality host for challenging her casual use of transphobic slurs.

Act will join seven other male contestants, who will intrude on this year’s all-female house this weekend.

OIP Staff