With the Big Brother 2025 final looming, a dramatic confession of love between two housemates has sharply divided the show's dedicated fanbase, with many branding the romantic moment a calculated 'game plan'.
A House Divided: Romance or Strategy?
The legendary house is a pressure cooker as the end of the series approaches this week. The tension escalated following a double eviction on Friday that saw Caroline and Nancy sent home, shortly after Sam's surprise back-door elimination.
In a teaser for tonight's episode, November 9, the focus turns to the remaining housemates. A preview clip shows contestants Elsa and Marcus making their relationship official with a mutual 'I love you'. In conversations with fellow housemates Jenny, Teja, and Emily, Elsa declared, 'I love love,' prompting Emily to ask if she was in love. After Elsa confirmed with a nod, Emily gushed with happiness, leading to Elsa revealing they had both already expressed their feelings.
A separate social media preview added fuel to the fire, showing Marcus planting a kiss on Elsa and saying, 'Love you.'
Viewer Reaction: Cringe or Cute?
The audience reaction has been anything but unanimous. While some supporters find the pairing genuinely sweet, a significant portion of viewers are deeply sceptical, interpreting the timing as a strategic play for screen time and votes.
One critical viewer called the moment 'cringe,' while another stated bluntly, 'Marcus's last-ditch attempt to make the final.' A fourth commenter speculated, 'Total game playing... they will separate once the 2 weeks of photoshoots end.' Another fan pointed out, 'Sure, Marcus is a great guy, but he's done absolutely nothing to get in the final. Only screentime he gets is because of Elsa.'
This scepticism has led many to predict that Marcus will be the next to face eviction, with housemate Richard now being tipped as the potential winner.
Support and Expert Weigh-In
Despite the criticism, other fans have come to the couple's defence. One viewer penned, 'Marcus and Elsa are actually quite SWEET can't believe I'm saying this.' Another declared, 'Everyone was saying this was all a showmance too, they're genuinely in love, and it's cute to see.'
The showmance even drew comments from former contestants. Jordan Sangha, the 2023 Big Brother champion, offered a measured perspective, noting the house is a 'melting pot' for feelings and suggesting 'comfortable' might be a better word than 'love'. He added that Elsa is 'endearing' and hoped the connection was genuine. Eliminated housemate Cameron B also remarked, 'Loves a strong word, Marcus, but if it's true, then all the best.'
Big Brother continues its run, airing Sunday to Friday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, with one contestant set to be crowned the winner imminently.
