CBB star Danny Beard's pal slams JoJo over nasty tactic and warns she's 'playing a game'

A close friend of finalist has spoken out following tension between the drag artist and fellow housemate on the reality TV show. The co-stars clashed recently after a 'killer nomination'.

Danny, 32, is among the remaining housemates on the show, which returned for its second series just two weeks ago. The champion is up against five other celebrities, including JoJo, 21, for the chance to leave the house as the winner in Friday night's final.

Ahead of being reunited later this week, Danny's pal Billy Andrew - who hosts the Gossip Gays podcast with them - spoke to about their time on the show. Billy said: "Danny's doing incredible. He's doing us all proud at home."

During the interview on Wednesday, Billy, who shared that they have known Danny now for over a decade, told us: "Dan is the funniest person I know. He's so lovely to everybody he ever meets and he's just so kind and caring. I think the housemates are seeing that [and] we're seeing that [too]."

Billy also addressed Danny - who ended up being saved by the public - having been put up for eviction by JoJo in just days ago. She had won the power to make a 'killer nomination' after being nominated herself.

Given the power to choose someone to take her place, JoJo picked Danny and said it was due to their humour. She said: "I know that's it's silly and it's in good fun, and you're always just taking the p***, but there is a time and a place. And I think sometimes it's not the time or place, I think that sense of humour still comes out and it can kind of be hard."

Asked about the situation with JoJo on the show, prior to Wednesday night's episode, Billy told us: "Dan knows it's a game and I think JoJo's playing that game well. I think she sees Danny as competition. He's a very funny queer person and JoJo's also queer, so I think JoJo could potentially be in it to win it and trying to throw Danny under the bus."

Later in the interview, Billy said: "In any situation, Danny will try and find the light and good and funny in everything. And that's what we're seeing. That is Dan. So, yeah, I'm really proud that we are getting to see that side to him."

Billy also shared with us that their pal is "exactly the same" off screen, dismissing any suggestion that Danny is playing up for the cameras on the TV show. They said in our interview: "What you're seeing on the screen is Danny."

"How he is with the people in the Big Brother house is how he is with the woman on the checkout [at ]. We ended up doing this acoustic performance with the woman on the checkout [once]. Like Dan just brings the fun and joy in every scenario whether it's in Big Brother or he's with the lady scanning his shopping in Morrisons. Like that is just Dan, so I'm so glad everybody's getting to see it," Billy explained.

Billy's co-hosted the Gossip Gays podcast with Danny since it launched in 2019. Discussing the project - which sees the pair discuss various topics - the host told us: "It's the best job ever." Billy added: "I look forward to recording every single week with Danny. It's just a couple of hours of having a laugh with your best mate and we get paid for it."

Asked if they are missing Danny, he told us: "It's been tough." Billy teased that the during the first week of this year's Celebrity Big Brother they were getting used to the excitement of seeing a friend in the house, before the reality of not being in contact with each other hit last week.

They said: "I would FaceTime him maybe three, four times a day, we'd do dinner a couple of nights a week [so] I've missed that. But it's been so nice to like sit down at 9 o'clock every night and that's kind of my little catch up with my friend.

"Because for like Drag Race [which Danny won back in 2022] it was four weeks of no contact. It's all pre-filmed nine months in advanced, so that was so much worse. That was hell. Because you didn't know what was going on [while he was away for that]. There was no indication of how well Dan was doing or anything like that, but at least this ... it's all pretty much live or 24 hours in advance so it's great to see."

It's been suggested by other housemates that Danny wants to be victorious again, though just days away from the final, Billy said: "I think Danny went in there to just go have the best time he possibly could and I don't think he's thought about it. I just think he was just so happy to be going in the Big Brother house because he's such a fan of the show." Billy added: "I don't think he went in there to win but I think him just going in there is a win for him, for sure."

Billy described housemate Donna as an "absolute legend," adding that scenes of her and Danny have been "TV gold". They teased: "Donna is coming to our summer barbecue. [...] I think I'd be replaced by Donna, actually. I'm a bit nervous about that! [Those] two are just having the best time."

Asked what it would mean to Danny if they did win, Billy said: "Oh it would mean the . It would mean so much. Like to be such a fan of the show and then to go on and win it, like, he would be like ... he'd be the happiest person ever. He'd be so beside himself. He would be really grateful for that. I'm rooting for him - he's my winner."

Celebrity Big Brother continues tonight from 9pm on ITV, STV, ITVX and STV Player. Late & Live will begin at 10pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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