Ella Rae Wise’s mother Sonia has revealed the heartbreaking reason her daughter is ‘holding back’ on Celebrity Big Brother.
The TOWIE star, 24, had a turbulent start to her time in the house, with Mickey Rourke making vile s3xual comments towards her, and a feud brewing between her and Love Island’s Chris Hughes.
Ella also confirmed she dumped ex Dan Edgar just one week before appearing on the ITV show.
And in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, her mum Sonia candidly shared that Ella is scared of getting hurt after years of being bullied in school.
She explained: ‘Ella had some difficult times at school. She was bullied really badly which was heartbreaking to see as a mum.
‘I think that’s why she holds back when she first meets people, as she doesn’t want to get hurt.’
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Ella Rae Wise ‘s mother Sonia has revealed the heartbreaking reason her daughter is ‘holding back’ on Celebrity Big Brother
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In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, her mum Sonia candidly shared that Ella is scared of getting hurt after years of being bullied in school
Sonia also explained that Ella struggled in school due to her dyslexia: ‘As a child Ella was kind, caring and very giving. She’d always share her toys or treats.
‘Due to her dyslexia Ella didn’t love the academic subjects at school but was really good at things like ballet and singing. She was also sporty, paying tennis and football.
‘I wanted to give Ella every opportunity that a child should have.’
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.
Sonia has been watching and supporting her daughter on Celerity Big Brother and couldn’t be prouder of the reality star, adding: ‘I’m proud of who she is and how far she has come in life. As a mum I couldn’t be prouder!’
Mickey left Ella in tears with a vile s3xual comment, shortly before being removed from the house.
The Hollywood actor, 72, who was booted due to his repeated ‘offensive and inappropriate’ language, made the remark during the latest shopping task.
Amid the pirate themed challenge Ella told the group: ‘I have instructions for us all. We’re not allowed in the bedroom, no one is allowed to touch the crisps or sweets.’
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The TOWIE star, 24, had a turbulent start to her time in the house, with Mickey Rourke making vile s3xual comments towards her
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‘Ella had some difficult times at school. She was bullied really badly which was heartbreaking to see as a mum’
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‘I think that’s why she holds back when she first meets people, as she doesn’t want to get hurt.’
‘I don’t like them’ Mickey said, as Ella continued: ‘You’ve got to come with me’.
To which The Wrestler actor responded: ‘Come in you’, shocked Drag Race star Danny Beard, 32, quickly interjected saying: ‘Mickey, you can’t make them jokes.’
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling
It can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing – along with potential struggles following directions or being organised
Children and adults of all intellectual abilities can be affected by dyslexia
People with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, including creative thinking and problem solving
Info from NHS.org
Later Mickey got into a heated altercation with Chris Hughes , 32, when he accused the Love Island star of ‘eyeballing’ him’ before calling him a ‘c***’.
Following the outburst Chris told his fellow housemates: ‘Mickey’s just Mickey, you know what I mean’.
But an emotional Ella broke down and said: ‘It’s fine, you can be just someone, but be mindful of what it can trigger in other people, because it’s made me feel very uneasy’.
Elsewhere during Wednesday’s episode, Ella admitted she has in the past wondered if she was gay and said she wanted a ‘girl experience’, following her split from Dan.
Ella made the confession during a candid conversation with pans3xual housemate JoJo Siwa, 22, and drag queen Danny.
After he fellow housemates mistook her ‘coming out’ plans once leaving the house as coming out of the closet, Ella quipped: ‘No I do want a girl experience’.
Then Dance Mom star JoJo said: ‘They say if you have the thought like, “I wonder if I am gay” you’re gay’.
‘You know what I mean, they say if have that thought then you are’.
To which a concerned Ella replied: ‘Oh my god I have had that thought quite a bit’ before going on to reveal her hopes to one day have an ‘experience’ with another woman.
It comes after Ella burst into tears as she opened up about her recent split, after confirmed her break up after entering the Big Brother house single as she revealed she has called it quits with Dan after 18 months of dating.
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Despite fans thinking a romance would blossom between Ella and Love Island’s Chris Hughes, a feud has been brewing between the pair
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It comes following her shock split from fellow TOWIE star Dan Edgar (pictured together in 2024)
During an episode of CBB last week, Ella became emotional as she spoke to JoJo and Angelica Bell about the sudden split.
The dancer and presenter comforted Ella as she confessed their break-up had happened right before entering the house. ‘This is fresh,’ Angelica said.
‘I knew something wasn’t right,’ Ella said, before she burst into tears and JoJo and Angelica leaned in to hug her.
‘Thank you. It’s just one of them things. I just feel like an idiot because everyone… I just knew he weren’t going to be what I wanted him to be. And I thought maybe he might for me but he just… and I don’t want to waste years trying to change someone do you know what I mean?’
‘But that just shows your strength,’ Angelica said, to which Ella replied: ‘Yeah, I just have to let it be. And it doesn’t mean we can’t be friends because we tried.’
Dan was reportedly left feeling blindsided as Ella made her CBB debut last week – after their shock split.
Celebrity Big Brother continues on Thursday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER 2025: MEET THE LINEUP!
MICKEY ROURKE – AXED
AGE: 72
FAMOUS FOR: The actor and former pro boxer is one of the show’s biggest ever signings and after public feuds with Robert De Niro, two marriages and a string of high profile relationships, he will be bringing plenty of drama.
DALEY THOMPSON
AGE: 66
FAMOUS FOR: The double Olympic gold-medallist is considered one of Britain’s greatest athletes. He broke the decathlon world record four times.
PATSY PALMER
AGE: 52
FAMOUS FOR: It’s an open secret that Patsy is leaving EastEnders, with the actress enjoying a wild leaving party this month. The Bianca Jackson star posted a snap of her character on Instagram with the caption: ‘Bye bye B, always grateful to see her again.’
DONNA PRESTON
AGE: 38
FAMOUS FOR: While Donna has featured in several TV shows and movies, the comedy star is known for hosting Apocalypse and for the role of a circus Compere in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. She plays Den in Coronation Street, has featured in Pants On Fire in 2019 and even wrote and co-produced BBC Three’s Comedy Threesomes.
CHESNEY HAWKES
AGE: 53
FAMOUS FOR: The singer topped the charts for five weeks in 1991 with his hit The One And Only, before making a string of acting and TV appearances. His arrival on CBB has been described by a TV source as ‘perfect timing’, as he’s just released a comeback album
ANGELLICA BELL
AGE: 49
FAMOUS FOR: The TV presenter is said to have landed a staggering five-figure deal to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Fans will be keen to see if the CBBC legend spills all on her untimely exit from The Martin Lewis Show – which left fans baffled back in 2023. Angellica currently co-presents Hits Radio while Fleur East is on maternity leave.
DANNY BEARD
AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner – whose real name is Daniel Curtis – has signed up as a late entry. Danny previously made headlines after swearing on Big Brother’s Late & Live last March whilst doing an impression of housemate Louis Walsh. The incident saw the guest say the word ‘c***’ before immediately apologising after being informed they weren’t allowed to say that on the show.