Big Brother UK has crowned Rochelle Rackham its 2026 winner, but her victory has left viewers divided, with some accusing the ITV reality show of being 'rigged'.

The 57-year-old Essex housewife was announced as the winner during Thursday night's (November 5) live final, beating fellow finalist Twinks Burnett, who finished in second place. Rochelle took home the £100,000 cash prize after securing the public vote, while Yasmin finished in third place, followed by Samuel, Lynx and Catrin.

However, her victory was met with an unexpected reaction from the studio audience, who loudly booed as she left the famous house. The crowd could also be heard chanting 'Twinks should have won' and demanding a 'recount', while presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best struggled to conduct Rochelle's exit interview over the noise.

The backlash quickly spilled onto social media, with viewers questioning how Rochelle had managed to win despite the criticism surrounding her behaviour throughout the series. Some fans also began questioning the legitimacy of the result following a live production blunder moments before the winner was announced.

During the final, viewers noticed that the on-screen graphics had mistakenly paired Rochelle and Twinks' photographs with each other's voting information while the public were still being encouraged to vote. Presenter Will Best later apologised for the mistake, clarifying that the images had been shown incorrectly and reminding viewers to submit their votes.

Although there is no confirmed evidence that the voting result was manipulated, the mistake has added to speculation among viewers about whether the final was handled correctly.

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Rochelle's controversial journey in the house has also contributed to the divided reaction. Throughout the eight-week series, she found herself at the centre of several disagreements with fellow housemates, including Twinks, Johanne Cade and Pauline Adeyemo. Her comments towards other contestants attracted criticism, with some viewers questioning how she continued to survive public votes and eventually make it to the final.

Following her victory, Rochelle thanked everyone who voted for her, saying she had worked hard throughout her time in the house and hoped she had entertained viewers. Despite her win, the reaction to the final has continued to dominate online conversations, with fans waiting to see whether ITV will release the voting percentages to provide further insight into the result.

With Rochelle taking home the crown and Twinks missing out on the top spot, the 2026 series has certainly ended on a controversial note.

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