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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Tina Campbell

ITV clarifies CBB star Ekin-Su Culculoglu's absence from Lorraine

Lorraine has issued an update after Ekin-Su Culculoglu appeared to miss a live TV interview on Monday morning following her explosive Celebrity Big Brother the week before.

Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid and Ed Balls had announced that the reality TV star, 29, would be chatting to Lorraine Kelly on the upcoming programme, but when they quizzed Kelly, she advised it wouldn’t be happening.

"We thought you might have Ekin-Su on?" asked Reid.

To which Kelly responded: "So did I.. but alas no. I don't know, we're trying to find out. She was due to come in right, but no."

Later on Monday however, Lorraine issued an update on their official Instagram account, writing on their Insta Stories: "We'd like to clear up a misunderstanding, Ekin-Su did not pull out of the show or throw the programme into chaos this morning. We'd love to welcome her back on the programme soon. We apologise for the confusion."

(PA Wire)

It comes after Culculoglu had an awkward showdown with Layton Williams during CBB spin-off show Late and Live on Friday.

Culculoglu had tried to “blame the edit” for what she deemed an unfair portrayal on the show around her explosive argument with Marisha Wallace during Thursday's episode. 

In the scenes that aired, the Turkish actress broke down in hysterical tears after Wallace picked her in the face to face nominations, before storming off to her bed as the musical star, 38, followed to apologise.

Culculoglu meanwhile had nominated former X Factor judge Louis Walsh to his face, despite seeming close to him in the house.

Speaking about the dramatic performance, which saw Culculoglu brand Wallace “fake,” Strictly finalist Williams was having none of it.

(ITV)

“Marisha had to pick someone basically and she did pick you, just like you picked Louis,” he shot back.

“Louis squashed it you know and kind of kept it moving and unfortunately you dragged it on and I kind of did feel for Marisha in that moment. 

“I was like, you know what this is her big day, she had just been told she had been nominated for an Olivier Award and to see her crying in the Big Brother...” as Culculoglu interrupted: “You haven't seen everything they have cut stuff out but ok.”

Refusing to back down, Williams continued: “Don't blame it on the edit, one thing we are not going to do is blame it on the edit. 

“We're not blaming it on the edit girl. We see what we see and it was just a shame, it was a big shame.”

Host Will Best then opened it up to the live audience to see if anyone agreed with Culculoglu’s take, but it proved a tough crowd.

“Anyone?” he asked, before one audience member put his hand up. “I wouldn't say I was on Ekin's side, but I would say I really respected you setting your boundaries and saying ‘look I need space’ I think that was a really mature response”.

“So were the rest of you on the fence or were you on Marisha's side?' asked Best, to which the audience all unanimously exclaimed: “Marisha!”

One audience member then put forward: “I think sometimes you need to listen to the positives, you never listened to the positive”. 

“Do you think that's fair? That you sometimes need to listen to the positives when they are next to a negative” questioned Best.

“No I am taking the positive side,” explained Culculoglu, “I'm just hurt that I wasn't portrayed as myself on the show.”

As an awkward silence fell across the studio, and Williams exclaimed: 'Wait?!”

Best’s then somewhat exasperated co-host AJ Odudu then said: “It's interesting because you have literally just walked out of the house. 

“You don't know what's been seen or what's been said, but I can assure you that everything that has been seen and has been said has been said by you.”

Giving no response, Culculoglu silently nodded, before her mum then interrupted the show in an attempt to defend her.

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