Mickey Rourke’s explosive exit from Celebrity Big Brother on April 12, 2025, sent shockwaves through the house, but it was an unexpected clash between two seemingly amicable housemates—TV presenter Angellica Bell, 49, and EastEnders star Patsy Palmer, 52—that left fans scratching their heads. During the April 13 episode, aired on ITV1 at 9 PM, a tense exchange unfolded as the housemates processed Rourke’s departure, prompting Angellica to snap at Patsy in a moment dubbed a “very random feud” by viewers. Social media erupted with reactions, with fans questioning the roots of this unlikely spat and whether Rourke’s chaos indirectly fueled it. This article dives into the feud’s details, its context within the house’s turmoil, and why it’s got everyone talking, drawing from reports by The Mirror, Daily Mail, and posts on X.
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Celebrity Big Brother viewers were left stunned after spotting an unlikely new feud after Angellica Bell, 49, snapped at EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer, 52
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The broadcaster (L) was chatting to comedian Donna Preston, 38 (R) when the soap star (C) misheard and thought the funny woman was also planning to join Mickey out the door.
The ‘Random Feud’ Unfolds
The incident occurred shortly after Big Brother announced Rourke’s removal for “threatening and aggressive” behavior toward Chris Hughes and inappropriate sexual comments to Ella Rae Wise. As the house reeled—JoJo Siwa packing Rourke’s bags, Trisha Goddard exclaiming, “Told you!”—Angellica was chatting with comedian Donna Preston, 38, about the drama. Patsy, mishearing their conversation, thought Donna might also be leaving, perhaps rattled by the sudden exit of Rourke and Michael Fabricant’s eviction the previous day. Approaching them, Patsy asked Donna, “Are you staying?” This seemingly innocent question triggered an emotional response from Angellica, who snapped, “You just came over and you asked her if she was okay, what about me?”
Choking back tears, Angellica continued, “You rarely ask me if I’m okay,” her voice cracking with hurt. Patsy, visibly taken aback, clarified, “Oh Ange, I’m sorry, I just thought I heard her say she was leaving.” Angellica pressed on, saying, “Because it does affect all of us,” emphasizing the collective toll of Rourke’s departure. The exchange ended with Patsy agreeing and the two sharing a hug, but the raw emotion left viewers stunned. Fans on X captured the bewilderment, with posts like, “What is going on in this CBB? Did Angellica just front Patsy for not asking how she was?” and “Can’t stop replaying the Angellica ‘what about me’ moment. Genuinely thought she was joking for a second. Was she having a dig at Patsy?” Another user wrote, “Angellica absolutely CHOKING to be involved in that chat with Patsy and Donna?? That was so random and weird.”
Context: A House on Edge
The feud’s randomness makes more sense against the backdrop of Rourke’s disruptive presence. The 72-year-old actor’s six days in the house were marked by volatility: he made homophobic remarks to JoJo Siwa, suggesting he could “make her not gay,” and used a slur, earning a formal warning. He brought Ella Rae Wise to tears with comments like needing to “run around the block” instead of using an LED mask, and mocked Patsy’s cooking, prompting her to cry in the Diary Room, saying, “I need to rise above it.” His final act—swearing at Chris Hughes during a pirate-themed task, calling him a derogatory name—led to his exit, slashing his £500,000 fee to £50,000, per The Sun. The house was already tense, with Ella nominating Chris as “fake” and JoJo clashing with her, creating a pressure cooker environment.
Angellica and Patsy, both seasoned media figures, had largely stayed above the fray. Angellica bonded with Ella over Rourke’s inappropriate remarks, while Patsy leaned on humor, joking about cooking despite Rourke’s jibes. However, Rourke’s exit left everyone raw—Daley Thompson reflected in the Diary Room, “He’s not everyone’s cup of tea,” while Chesney Hawkes noted the house felt “calmer” without him, per The Independent. The sudden void, coupled with the emotional weight of Fabricant’s eviction, may have amplified small slights. Fans speculate Angellica’s outburst stemmed from feeling overlooked, with one X post noting, “Angellica’s been quiet, maybe she felt invisible next to Patsy’s big personality.” Another suggested, “Mickey’s chaos broke everyone—Angellica’s tears were probably about more than Patsy.”
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Patsy (pictured) asked: ‘Are you staying?’ only for an emotional Angelica to snap: ‘You just came over and you asked her if she was okay, what about me?’
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Choking back tears she went on: ‘You rarely ask me if I’m okay’ before Patsy apologised and they shared a hug
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Bemused fans took to X writing: ‘What is going on in this CBB. Did Angellica Bell just front Patsy Palmer for not asking how she was?’
Why It Felt So Random
The clash felt jarring because Angellica and Patsy hadn’t clashed publicly before. Angellica, known for The One Show and CBBC, projects warmth, while Patsy, the fiery Bianca Jackson from EastEnders, brings a cheeky resilience. Their personas—Angellica’s calm professionalism, Patsy’s brash charm—made them unlikely foes. Unlike Ella and JoJo’s brewing rivalry, fueled by jealousy over Chris, or Rourke’s overt conflicts, this spat arose from a misunderstanding, not a deep rift. Patsy’s quick apology and their hug suggest it wasn’t personal, but Angellica’s tears hinted at deeper insecurity, perhaps exacerbated by the house’s high-stakes dynamics.
The timing added to the oddity. Rourke’s exit was the episode’s focal point, with JoJo’s packing scene and Trisha’s blunt reaction dominating airtime. The Angellica-Patsy moment felt like a side note, yet its intensity stole the spotlight. “I honestly thought Angellica was joking in character when she snapped at Patsy, what’s all that about??” one fan tweeted, capturing the surreal shift. Some fans theorized editing played a role, with one X post saying, “ITV probably cut context—we don’t know how tense things were post-Mickey.” A 2023 Variety analysis noted reality shows often amplify minor conflicts for drama, and Big Brother’s 24/7 cameras give editors ample material to craft narratives.
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The Hollywood actor Mickey, 72, was thrown out of the ITV house after exploding into a foul-mouthed rant amid an altercation with Love Island’s Chris Hughes
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The confrontation occurred during the latest pirate themed shopping task when Mickey accused Chris, 32, of ‘eyeballing’ him’
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He went on to call the reality star (pictured) a ‘c***’
Fan Theories and Reactions
Social media reflects a mix of confusion, amusement, and empathy. Some fans found humor in the absurdity, with posts like, “Thought Angellica was gonna square up to Patsy then WTF?!” Others dug deeper, suggesting Angellica’s reaction revealed underlying strain. “Angellica’s ‘what about me’ wasn’t just about Patsy—she’s been sidelined in a loud house,” one user wrote. Another defended Patsy, saying, “Patsy was just checking on Donna, Angellica overreacted big time.” A third perspective tied it to Rourke: “Mickey’s toxicity left everyone on edge—Angellica’s tears are what happens when the house is a mess.”
Critics of the show’s casting argue Rourke’s presence set the stage for such flare-ups. “Mickey was a walking trigger—his exit didn’t calm things, it just shifted the chaos,” one X user posted, echoing The Independent’s view that his “appalling homophobia” was “ITV’s shame.” Others praised the drama, with viewership hitting 1.74 million for the exit episode, per Radio Times, proving conflict drives ratings. Betting odds shifted, favoring Danny Beard and JoJo Siwa, suggesting fans expect more clashes, per Express.
Could Rourke’s Exit Be the Cause?
While the feud wasn’t directly about Rourke, his departure likely heightened emotions. His behavior—targeting Siwa, Wise, and Palmer—created a toxic atmosphere, and his sudden exit left housemates processing shock, relief, or guilt. Angellica’s tears might reflect cumulative stress, with Patsy’s question an accidental trigger. Michael Fabricant’s claim that Rourke planned to leave by Thursday, revealed on This Morning, suggests he was a destabilizing force from the start, per Daily Mail. JoJo’s mother, Jessalynn, feared physical escalation, and Kath Ebbs called him “dangerous,” highlighting the house’s tension, per The Mirror.
The feud also mirrors broader house divides. Ella’s nomination of Chris as “fake” and JoJo’s counter-nomination show fractured alliances, with Angellica and Patsy caught in the emotional crossfire. A 2024 Ofcom report noted reality TV’s role in magnifying interpersonal strain, and Big Brother’s confined setting amplifies slights, especially post-crisis like Rourke’s exit. Patsy’s history of resilience—she cried over Rourke but vowed to “rise above”—contrasts with Angellica’s quieter struggle, making their clash a study in clashing coping styles.
What’s Next?
The hug suggests Angellica and Patsy have moved past the spat, but Tuesday’s eviction—potentially involving Patsy, Trisha, or Jack P. Shepherd—could stir more tension. Fans are watching Angellica closely, with some predicting she’ll either fade or snap again. “Angellica’s one to watch—either she’s cracking or she’s playing a subtle game,” an X post read. Patsy, meanwhile, remains a fan favorite, with her emotional Diary Room moments resonating. The house’s focus has shifted to Ella and JoJo’s feud, but the “random” clash lingers as a reminder of how quickly bonds can fray.
Celebrity Big Brother thrives on such surprises, and this unlikely feud proves even quiet housemates can spark drama. As the show continues weeknights at 9 PM, viewers await the next twist, wondering if Rourke’s ghost will haunt the house further or if new rivalries will steal the stage. For now, Angellica and Patsy’s moment is a quirky footnote in a season defined by chaos.
