Big Brother contestant Emily Hewertson has sparked outrage during the final week of the series following contentious remarks about the NHS and Ireland.
The 25-year-old political events manager and influencer from Northampton, who has previously shared her conservative viewpoints on GB News, entered the house as a Conservative Party member.
In a dramatic twist on her first day, Emily was eliminated after fellow housemates Caroline Monk and Sam Ashby voted her out. Despite this setback, she made a comeback in week three and has successfully reached the closing stages of the competition.
Nevertheless, her position in the show appears increasingly precarious ahead of the finale, with numerous viewers expressing dismay over the controversial contestant’s description of the NHS as “a religious cult”.
“If it came down to it and it said, ‘vote for a United Ireland,’ I don’t know if I’d vote,” Jenny confided to Emily, who enthusiastically responded: “My kind of woman! You should tell your friends not to vote too – no, I’m joking.”
Jenny went on: “I’m only young, I don’t know a lot about it but with the NHS etc, Dublin doesn’t get that.”
Emily then launched into an impassioned speech, declaring: “Tell me about it. Northern Ireland are very prosperous under the British government. I’m just saying. More than they would be otherwise. I’m just saying.
“To be honest, I don’t think the NHS should be the dream. Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing, but compared to some other European health systems, it’s a bit below par.”
When Jenny responded by saying she believes the “NHS is brilliant”, Emily replied: “It’s become a religious cult unfortunately.”
Viewers wasted no time taking to social media to slam Emily’s remarks, with one posting: “Can we stop blowing smoke up Emily’s a**? She just said the NHS is a religious cult… not everyone can pay for private healthcare like you. Disgusting comment tbh #BigBrother #bbuk.”
A second added: “Emily’s comment p****d me off! THE NHS is a wonderful service…it’s just deeply underfunded.”
A third branded her comments as “vile”, as a fourth questioned: “What the hell is she actually talking about though, what ‘religion’?”
Other viewers also challenged Emily’s statements regarding Northern Ireland. “Emily is saying Northern Ireland is very PROSPEROUS under the British government?” one posted, whilst another commented: “Emily is getting a little too comfortable with the anti Irish sentiment #bbuk.”
One frustrated viewer tweeted that Emily has “no place commenting on whether Ireland should be united” and a fourth added: “Genuinely think Emily’s comments tonight about Ireland are the most offensive things she’s said on this show, like jfc #bbuk.”