After 25 years on our screens, it's fair to say that Big Brother, and the celebrity counterpart Celebrity Big Brother, is a pretty tried and tested recipe. Now that the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother is in full swing, it's time to play catch up on the famous housemates.
One CBB housemate who has already made a big impression is drag performer and former RuPaul's Drag Race winner Danny Beard, aka Daniel Curtis. Only a few days in and he's already struck up an unlikely friendship with former Tory MP Michael Fabricant. Here's everything you need to know...
Who is Danny Beard?
Danny Beard is the stage name for Daniel Curtis, a drag performer and singer, who rose to fame on Britain's Got Talent. They reached the semi-finals of series 10 of the show, and ever since they've been a familiar face on our TV screens.
Danny grew up in Liverpool, before going on to study in Manchester. They were 23 at the time of the BGT audition. They have a close relationship with their parents, their mother Patricia, firefighter father Luke and grandmother Patricia.
However, Danny has admitted to struggling with life outside the home thanks to cruel bullies. In an interview with MancunianMatters, they said: 'When I was 13 I was attacked on my way home from school by a few of the older boys that called me gay; one boy even made himself knuckle dusters out of pins from school and taped them to his hands to cut my face,' containing 'This experience put everything into perspective for me at such a young age and because of it I thought it was a terrible thing to be gay.'
How old is Danny Beard?
Danny was born on 27 May 1992, making them 32 years old.
What reality shows has Danny been on?
Since appearing on Britain's Got Talent, Danny hasn't been far away from our screens. In 2021, Danny competed on ITV2's Karaoke Club: Drag Edition, before appearing as a competitor on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. They became the first bearded drag artist to compete on the British version of the show, and went on to win the season.
In an interview with GayTimes, they addressed being the first bearded winner of the show. 'Listen, I’m not the best bearded queen in the world. It’s quite subtle until you get close and you notice it, and that’s my thing. I like that,' they said, continuing 'But, there’s so many different kinds of drag. It’s not just about gay men in dresses, and it shouldn’t be. Drag is about being anything you wanna be. It should be open to anyone.'
They have also appeared in two episodes of Hollyoaks, becoming the second drag artist to cameo in at least one episode of a British soap opera. They are now turning their interests towards forming a comedy career, and in 2023 they took part in Channel 4's Comedy Roast, which was in support of Stand Up To Cancer.
Danny Beard on Celebrity Big Brother
Danny entered the famous house for series 24, but they are actually a friend of the show already, appearing on the spin-off magazine show, Big Brother: Late and Live in October 2024. In the first episode, tensions rose between Danny and former Olympian Daley Thompson. He made an offhand comment to Danny and said, 'Not everything is about you.' The mix-up was initially met with laughter, but Danny picked it up later with Donna Preston.
The drag artist explained, 'I think I've tried to make an effort with everybody. But I heard Daley make a comment like, "Well not everything revolves around you," and, I don't know if I'm overthinking it.'
'I'm overthinking it,' the concluded. 'I'm gonna totally make an effort with him tomorrow, that's it.'
According to the latest odds by Card Player, Danny is the current market leader as 3/1 to win the new series.
Who else is in the Celebrity Big Brother house?
Joining Danny in the famous residence is Hollywood actor, Mickey Rourke, 90s pop star Chesney Hawkes, TV presenter Trisha Goddard, actress Donna Preston, Nickelodeon star Jojo Siwa, former Love Islander Chris Hughes, former Eastenders actor Patsy Palmer, Coronation Street actor Jack P. Shepherd, former Olympian Daley Thompson, presenter Angellica Bell, former Conservative politician Michael Fabricant and TOWIE's Ella Rae Wise.
In another words, it will be a house of full of big personalities, which means it's bound to make great TV...
Does Danny Beard have Instagram?
Yes. You can follow Danny at @thedannybeard.