In a jaw-dropping exclusive with Attitude, Big Brother 2025’s breakout star Sam Ashby is spilling all the tea—and trust us, it’s scalding hot. From surviving a near-elimination in episode one to navigating explosive romances, heated confrontations, and a shocking back-door eviction as the seventh housemate out, Sam’s journey was pure chaos. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The 27-year-old non-binary icon returned for a cringe-worthy finale on Late & Live, where tensions boiled over into “venomous” clashes that left them sobbing during ad breaks. Now, Sam’s breaking their silence, vowing to set the record straight on George’s unaired anti-trans rants, the “fake” drama of the finale, and the heartbreaking secret feud with Zelah Glasson that nearly shattered their bond. Buckle up—this is the unfiltered truth straight from the source.
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Embracing Fluidity: Sam’s Take on Identity and Pronouns
Sam, who vibes with he/she/they pronouns, keeps it real about their gender journey. “I’m very much of the mindset that I don’t really feel too attached to anything in particular,” they confess. “I just kind of flow through life as Sam, or as Smashby. It’s not really a case of my gender so much. It’s more that I just feel quite fluid as a person.” When it comes to the term ‘non-binary,’ Sam nods in agreement: “On paper, that makes the most sense. When I’ve looked into it, that seems to be the term that makes the most sense of how I feel. So I’m happy to wear that one… It makes so much sense to navigate the world regardless of gender.” In a world obsessed with labels, Sam’s effortless fluidity is a breath of fresh air—and a powerful message for fans everywhere.
The Wild Ride After Big Brother: Beef Squashed and Dust Settling
Emerging from the Big Brother bubble has been a rollercoaster for Sam. “It’s been really weird, because it was such a journey in there,” they admit. Evicted on a tense note with unresolved drama, Sam felt weighed down by negativity—especially after the explosive finale and wrap party. But time heals all wounds, right? “Now it feels like the dust is settling a lot, and conversations are happening, and some beef has been squished, which is nice.” Case in point: their fallout with Jenny. After a post-show blocking spree to clear the negativity, Sam reached out with an apology. Jenny’s response? “I’ve got no ill will towards you. We’ve all gone through a crazy experience; it’d be good if we can all move from it together.” Jenny’s no-fucks-given attitude sealed the deal—beef officially squashed.
Reflecting on their edit, Sam pulls no punches: “It looks like I’m more bitchy than what I am. But I think that was the point: to make us get heated towards each other.” As one of the last entrants alongside Jenny, Sam suspects the producers engineered the rivalry for maximum drama. “It works. I fell into the trap easily enough,” they laugh. “Girls will always bitch sometimes, you know what I mean?” But watching back, Sam’s proud: “I feel now quite happy with what I did in the house, ’cause as much as it’s been quite dicey, it’s made for good TV.”
Bonds Forged in the House: Nancy, Caroline, and the Road to Redemption
Sam’s alliances were the heart of their story. From day one, Nancy Nocerino was an instant connection: “It was the minute I walked in. I think she was the first hug that I had. I just remember looking at her and being like, ‘Who is this girl? Who is this Sidney Sweeney, Kylie Minogue look-alike?'” Then there’s Caroline Monk, whose rocky start—including misgendering Zelah and offending Nancy’s sexuality—tested loyalties. “That was quite a hard thing for me to get over,” Sam recalls. As the house’s queer voice, they confronted Caroline head-on: “Not really. Because that is fucking wild.”
But eviction gave Sam perspective. Watching from the secret room, they saw Caroline’s vulnerability shine through. “Once I’d got evicted and seen… that every eviction Nancy pretty much didn’t really care if she was alone or not, but Caroline did. I thought, well, that speaks volumes.” Post-show chats have deepened their bond, with open discussions on queer issues and politics. Caroline’s cluelessness about figures like Laurence Fox? Eye-opening. “She apparently had no idea he was burning Pride flags… We’d have open conversations and she’d be open to what I said.” Sam sees the real Caroline: warm, open-minded, and far from the TV edit.
The Zelah Heartbreak: Miscommunication, Crushes, and Extending the Olive Branch
Ah, the Zelah saga—the romantic twist that turned toxic. Sam and Zelah didn’t speak until the finale, but now? “The conversation’s started,” Sam reveals, fresh off a podcast where they messaged him. “I’m just trying to keep it normal and not get, like, overwhelmed or emotional about it.” The root? A massive misunderstanding. “When I heard he had a crush… and then he told me I was his crush I was like, ‘What does this mean?'” Sam admits getting carried away: “It’s the first time someone’s said I’m their crush. I’ve never had that before… I’m absolutely holding my hands up and saying I got that wrong.”
But the pain runs deep. “I did feel led on, but on reflection, I don’t think it was intentional… It’s been hard to then come out and see him doing a Q&A or going live and him seeing me in quite a negative and angry light.” Trust issues plagued their dynamic: “This is an issue I kept seeing with Zelah… he always kind of got caught up in how I was presented.” Yet hope flickers: “I really, really hope it has a positive outcome because that friendship was so treasured to me.”
Peak Happiness Amid the Chaos
Despite the drama, Sam cherishes week four’s glow-up. Fresh from re-entering after eviction, initial skepticism melted into joy. “Once I’d had the conversations and aired things out, I was really good with everybody,” they beam. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘God, I’m so happy. Everything’s going so well… I’ve got the big eviction validation—I’m meant to be here.'” The aeroplane challenge? Pure bliss.
George’s Scandal Exposed: Unaired Anti-Trans Rants and Why He Skipped the Finale
Now, the bombshell everyone’s waiting for—George Gilbert’s controversial exit. Why wasn’t he at the finale? Sam hints at deeper issues, revealing unaired gems: “There were a few. There was one about a couple in the new Buzz Lightyear film. He was saying that it was, like, pornographic, to see two same-sex people kiss in a Disney movie.” Sam’s clapback? Spot-on: “But how many straight couples have you seen kiss in Disney movies? … Why is it different?”
Then, the trans kids comment: “No, they might turn out to be gay and regret it.” Sam dismantles it: “That’s a really, really, really rare situation… I don’t really think he believed that shit. I think it’s just kind of for conversation.” These remarks got George booted, and Sam stands firm: “I’m telling the TRUTH.” Proudest moment? Educating the house on LGBTQ+ rights. “Most of the trans community stuff was something I was really proud of… I’m really grateful to have done that for the trans community.”
The “Fake” Finale Fiasco: Tears, Tension, and Afterparty Isolation
The finale? A nightmare. “The drama happened on Late and Live, and that’s where it all kicked off,” Sam recounts. Seated next to Zelah by eviction order, venom flew: “He even said to me he was venomous about that situation… In between the ad breaks, it was me running off, sobbing.” Post-break, Sam switched seats: “I can’t. I don’t want to do this anymore.” The afterparty? Icy isolation. “It was mostly just me, Emily, and Farmer Cameron… I only spoke to Farmer Cameron and Emily, obviously Nancy and Caroline.” Despite the “fake” setup fueling the fire, Sam got their Big Brother dream—evictions, catwalks, and all.
Eurovision Dreams and Star-Studded Support
Looking ahead, Sam’s eyes are on Eurovision: “I’ve always dreamed of it… quite a fucking performance—like, every bell and every whistle.” Their sound? Evolving from pop to Drag Race vibes to countryfied anthems. Icons? Sam Ryder, Måneskin, Olly Alexander (a longtime supporter), Loreen, and Jedward.
And the cherry on top? Celeb shoutouts. “My favourite country singer, Megan McKenna… I got my dream follow.” Big Brother legends like Danny Beard, Lily, and Ali have been pillars: “Ali has been amazing for me and Nancy… I think I’ll be on their podcast soon… teaser.” Even if the world turns, Sam’s got the stars in their corner.
Sam Ashby’s Big Brother saga is far from over—this truth bomb proves they’re unbreakable. Stay tuned for more revelations!