Rochelle Rackham, who won Big Brother 2026 on ITV2 on Friday night, apologised on Sunday for historic social media posts containing racist language. The posts had overshadowed her victory and prompted boos from the studio audience. In a statement shared on her social media accounts, Rackham said she was ashamed of the posts and did not hold the views they expressed.

Rackham was crowned winner in the live final presented by AJ Odudu and Will Best. Sections of the crowd jeered as her name was announced. Screenshots of the posts had circulated online during the final week of the series, and viewers questioned how she had passed the show's pre-entry checks.

A spokesperson for ITV said the broadcaster took the matter seriously and had addressed the posts with Rackham after leaving the house. The spokesperson said contestants undergo background and welfare checks before entering. The broadcaster confirmed that support was being offered to Rackham and to other former housemates during the post-show period.

The apology did little to quell criticism online. Anti-racism campaigners and former housemates questioned whether the winner should keep her prize money. Media regulator Ofcom said it had received complaints about the final and would assess them against its Broadcasting Code before deciding whether to investigate.

The controversy is the latest test for Big Brother since ITV revived the format in 2023. Producers face pressure to explain how the posts were missed and whether vetting will be tightened for future series. It comes in the same week that Channel 4 axed Married at First Sight UK, putting duty-of-care standards in British reality television under fresh scrutiny.