ITV’s Lorraine issues apology after claiming Ekin-Su 'pulled out last minute' following Celebrity Big Brother eviction

Lorraine Kelly has been forced to apologise for some brutal remarks she made about Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu after the reality star failed to appear on her breakfast talk-show yesterday morning.

Ex-Love Island winner was due to enjoy a post-eviction chat with the Scottish presenter on Monday's show, just days after she was sensationally axed from Celebrity Big Brother, but Lorraine told viewers she'd been 'due to come in', but implied she cancelled at the last minute.

For those unfamiliar with the drama that's gone down on the much-loved reality series in the last week, Ekin-Su, 29, was evicted from the ITV reality show on Friday night following an explosive prior blow-out with co-star Marisha Wallace.

The former Dancing On Ice contestant was seen breaking down in hysterics on the show after musical theatre star Marisha picked her in the face-to-face nominations, causing Ekin-Su to storm off to her bed.

And later, catching up with hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best on Big Brother's gossip-fuelled follow-up show Late and Live, the ex-Islander not only branded former cast-mate Marisha 'fake' for voting for her, but she also made some bombshell allegations about producers 'fixing' the show.

In an interview that viewers subsequently branded 'excruciatingly painful', Ekin-Su warned them not to believe everything they see on screen.

ITV

Despite only having been removed from the house moments earlier and not having had the chance to watch the series back, she hit out: "You haven’t seen everything, they’ve cut stuff out.

"I’m just hurt that I wasn’t portrayed as myself on the show."

Thankfully, presenter AJ was quick to refuse Ekin-Su's claims, reminding her that she hadn't watched a single episode.

"It's interesting because you've literally just walked out of the house!" she hit back.

"You don't know what's been seen, what's been said. But I can assure you that everything that has been seen and has been said, has been said by you!"

Naturally, the star has since faced criticism for her bizarre allegations about the show, which ITV presenter Lorraine hinted yesterday may have been behind Ekin-Su's absence from her own show.

"She was due to come in but no," 64-year-old Lorraine told Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid. "We're trying to find out.

"She was not happy, sometimes you think it's put on but she was genuinely not pleased at all."

Susanna also went on to make a tongue-in-cheek jibe aimed at the former dating show winner - who won Love Island back in 2022 alongside now-ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti.

ITV

"This is why I like live TV because then you know what's actually happened," Susanna said. "And there's no blaming the edits."

Lorraine then joined in: "Yes live is a lot better."

And while some ITV viewers were seemingly amused by the presenters' comments on Ekin-Su's absence from the show, bosses on Lorraine have now been forced to apologise for accusing the star of cancelling.

ITV

A statement released to the show's official Instagram account today reads: "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."