Big Brother star Kerry Riches has U-turned on her political stance and issued an apology for admitting to voting Conservative during her time in the house.
The NHS worker sparked backlash from a number of left-leaning ITV viewers when she openly said she was typically a Conservative voter during a discussion with her fellow housemates last month.
Kerry was evicted from the Big Brother house earlier this week after being nominated by fellow contestants Noky and Trish.
Since leaving the house and returning to life outside the show, the 40-year-old has addressed the uproar she prompted by sharing her political views.
After admitting she "100 percent forgot the cameras" were recording, Kerry said: "When you’re asked your political sway, you answer – well I did. It’s worked for me as a family up until now."
Kerry went on to tell Metro she would "absolutely not" vote Conservatives again "at the moment" amid the backlash, a view she expressed during the discussion in the house prior to being made aware of the furore.
Kerry was evicted from the Big Brother house on Halloween
ITV
"Of course, I wouldn’t," she told the publication. "But it was a question of who you voted for four years ago.
"It’s a shame if it has (upset people), because I feel like I’m super down to earth, and I wouldn’t ever not vote. Women went through far too much to get us the vote. I wouldn’t not vote."
Kerry apologised once again during the interview with the publication before saying she hoped her "political viewpoint" wouldn't be held against her in the "outside world".
She added: "I’d hate to think that someone wouldn’t like me as a person, because actually a certain political view works for me, works for us as a family."
Kerry also apologised if she offended any viewers by complaining about the amount of tax she pays after working her way up into a higher tax bracket.
The discussion that took place in the house came after fellow housemate and Conservative voter Henry admitted he voted Tory because he'd like to "go for a martini with Boris Johnson".
Kerry weighed in to say she felt let down by the political party as she said: "I don't want someone funny running our country. Since I could vote, I've voted Conservative."
She continued: "I've believed their manifesto and they haven't delivered all of it."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Shetland fans plead for Douglas Henshall return after 'disappointing' first episode without Jimmy Perez
- Eamonn Holmes shares real reason he'd never do Strictly after previously snubbing BBC bosses
- BBC 'crisis' as big-budget series suffers ratings humiliation after viewers slam 'waste of licence fee money'
Big Brother's Kerry admitted to voting Conservative in the house
ITV
Turning her attention to the now-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, she added: "Rishi's probably the best of a bad bunch at the moment."
The backlash to Kerry's political views may not come as a surprise after Big Brother as a whole was accused of going "woke" by disgruntled viewers.
On the second day in the house, for example, the housemates sat around the table to discuss their preferred pronouns - something GB News' own Nana Akua was quick to ridicule.
The series has also found itself at the centre of a number of complaints, including a race row following Dylan's outburst earlier this week as well as a "fix" row due to the reaction to Yinrun's rule break.
