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'Big Brother' Legend Marcus Bentley Won't Be Voicing Celeb BB Launch

'Big Brother' Legend Marcus Bentley Won't Be Voicing Celeb BB Launch

Bentley confirmed that it was only a one-off as all women roster will be entering the house

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

Big Brother is a true British telly institution and for the past 17 years Geordie Marcus Bentley has been the man voicing over footage of the housemates' antics.

But for the first time in the reality TV show's history, the iconic voice-over artist has been axed as a new series of Celebrity Big Brother launches live tonight. It won't be the same without him, but it's for a good reason.

The cult Channel 5 show is kicking off tonight with only women walking through the house's famous doors, with this year's contestants including Boris Johnson's sister Rachel and former MP Ann Widdecombe.

Taking to Twitter to confirm the news, Marcus wrote: "This will the first #CBB launch I've watched from home! Can't wait. 9pm Channel 5."

However, Marcus thankfully confirmed that he won't be replaced permanently, replying to concerned commenters with: "Just a one off for tonight.

"There's no female voice over. Just Emma Willis presenting.... I will be back tomorrow." Well, that's a relief.

The new series of CBB is launching tonight with an all-women line-up, with men set to enter the house this coming Friday.

The line-up has been chosen to celebrate the the 100th anniversary of women over 30 being given the vote in the UK.

"We approach each series thinking of ways to make it as entertaining and engaging as possible," Tamsin Dodgson, Celebrity Big Brother's executive editor, told BBC News.

"As the nation prepares to mark [the centenary], we're launching the show with female-only contestants which is a gentle nod to this landmark anniversary."

Credit: Instagram/Marcus Bentley

Willis, who has presented the show since 2013, expressed her excitement for the all-female line-up, saying she doesn't think she's been excited for a series in a while.

"I always love doing Big Brother but I feel like this series is going to be incredible," Willis said. "I think the theme is fitting because it is 100 years since women got the vote."

"There is a real broad variety of women going in and they all have their own unique view points on women's rights and what they think of women in the 21st century and men in the 21st century."

This isn't the first time that the Big Brother house has started out only with women. Big Brother 8 in 2007 saw eleven women entering the house first together until the first man entered on Day 3.

Featured Image Credit: Channel 4

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Big Brother