Inside Celebrity Big Brother stars’ sober journeys – after Jack P Shepherd, Patsy Palmer, Daley Thompson and Jojo Siwa all turned down alcohol in opening episode

Patsy Palmer formed an instant bond with Jack P Shepherd on Celebrity Big Brother’s launch episode on Monday night when he joined the EastEnders star in opting for a non-alcoholic drink.

As the Coronation Street actor, 37, entered the house he was asked by former Love Island contestant Chris Hughes, 32, whether he fancied champagne.

Jack replied: ‘Do they have water or orange juice or a coke or something? Fab.’

Patsy, who had arrived moments earlier, was relieved to see someone else remaining sober and told her fellow soap star: ‘I asked for non-alcoholic champagne and I thought I’d be the only one.’

The actress, 52, was the fifth to walk into the iconic house and, just as she was entering, Chris had begun pouring his fellow celebrities drinks, with the various bottles labelled as alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

When singer Jojo Siwa, 21, was asked whether she fancied a tipple, she said, ‘Yeah, but non-alcoholic’, while Patsy asked for ‘water’ moments later.

Patsy Palmer formed a bond with Jack P Shepherd (pictured, right, with Michael Fabricant and Chesney Hawkes) on Celebrity Big Brother on Monday as they went for non-alcoholic drinks

The EastEnders star, who had arrived moments earlier, was relieved to see someone else remaining sober

When singer Jojo Siwa, 21, was asked if she fancied a tipple, she said, ‘Yeah, but non-alcoholic’, while Patsy asked for ‘water’ moments later

Shortly after, Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson (pictured, with Ella Rae Wise), 66, politely declined Chris Hughes’s offer of a drink before settling on a juice

TV show host Trisha Goddard, 67, seemed to add: ‘We’re having non-alcoholic champagne.’

Shortly after, Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson, 66, politely declined Chris’s offer of a drink before settling on a juice.

TOWIE star Ella Rae Wise, 24, snapped up the chance to have a beverage while RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, 32, told Chris they would ‘love’ a drink but it was not seen whether or not they chose an alcoholic one.

Fellow contestants Chesney Hawkes, Donna Preston, Angellica Bell, Mickey Rourke and Michael Fabricant were all spotted with flutes as the group chatted at the end of the opening episode.

Ahead of her arrival in the CBB house, Patsy revealed she now drinks alcohol again after she previously ditched booze for more than two decades.

The EastEnders icon, 52, whose real name is Julie Merkell, went teetotal in 2004 after earning a reputation as quite the party girl in the nineties.

And ahead of her arrival in the ITV show house on Monday evening, Patsy confessed that she does drink wine now, but only in moderation.

When asked if she still drinks, Patsy said: ‘No, occasionally I’ll have a glass of wine, it doesn’t bother me, with food. I don’t do anything rigid anymore.

Patsy was the fifth to walk into the iconic house and, just as she was entering, Chris had begun pouring his fellow celebrities drinks

TOWIE star Ella Rae Wise, 24, snapped up the chance to have a beverage as she entered the house

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, 32, told Chris they would ‘love’ a drink but it was not seen whether or not they chose an alcoholic one

Chesney Hawkes, Donna Preston, Angellica Bell, Mickey Rourke and Michael Fabricant were all spotted with flutes as the group chatted at the end of the opening episode

‘I went through many years of following certain programs, which I think are great, I’m not saying anyone should do this because I think all of the programs for people are amazing, but I haven’t followed anything for as long, I’ve just found my own way in life and it should be about that.

‘It should give every single individual a way to live their life, hopefully, whether they decide to continue with it forever or whether they decide to go find their own way and do what they want to do, that should be the goal.’

Patsy added: ‘There are some people I know who could never have a drop of alcohol ever again, I did think that would be the case for me because that’s what certain programs tell you, but I was never really a big drinker anyway.’ 

Patsy shot to stardom as market trader Bianca Jackson aged 21, where she found on-screen love with Ricky Butcher, and also found a place in the hearts of the nation.

However off screen, Patsy began struggling with a party hard lifestyle where she would binge on alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy.

The TV star has previously admitted to trying alcohol at eight, sniffing solvents at 11 and even snorting cocaine at just 13.

When she joined the cast of EastEnders, Patsy was a single mother living with her son Charley, now 33, in an East End flat.

She told the Mirror in 2012: ‘Quite often, I’d party all night and go into work the next morning, just grabbing sleep on the set whenever I could, I don’t know how I survived.’

Ahead of her arrival in the CBB house, Patsy (pictured, this month) revealed she now drinks alcohol again after she previously ditched booze for more than two decades 

The EastEnders icon (pictured, in 1998) whose real name is Julie Merkell, went teetotal in 2004 after earning a reputation as quite the party girl in the nineties 

Jack, meanwhile, might frequent the Rovers Return for his role of David Platt in Corrie, but, as per The Sun, he has previously posted snaps of enjoying a more extravagant lifestyle

‘My emotions were completely unmanageable at that time and I don’t think I realised how unmanageable they were until I stopped. When I look back and see how much I’ve changed I think I was a different person.’

The media personality previously told how the family ‘don’t have alcohol in the house’ and she follows the 12-step programme from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Patsy said: ‘Ask yourself, “Is drinking and taking drugs stopping you from being the best person you want to be?”.

‘And if the answer’s yes, it’s time to knock it on the head. Richard and I didn’t want that for our life.

‘I didn’t want to be falling out of clubs. I wanted a settled home life and now I have.’

Jack, meanwhile, might frequent the Rovers Return while he plays the role of David Platt in Corrie, but, as per The Sun, he has previously posted snaps of enjoying a more extravagant lifestyle.

In 2018, he uploaded pictures of him sipping champagne on a boat ride before popping another open when he arrived on the river bank.

He had also shared snaps of him revelling in glasses of £250 Cristal champagne with co-star Colson Smith, with eagle-eyed viewers spotting empty bottles stacked by the windows in the background.

Pop sensation Jojo (pictured, in March) revealed in the run-up to her 21st birthday last year that she does not drink alcohol and that the plans for her big day would be altered accordingly

‘I don’t enjoy drinking I really don’t,’ she said. ‘Believe it or not, I was a bad girl, I did some bad things but I don’t drink’ (pictured: Jojo at her 21st last May)

In a day in the life feature for The Telegraph in January, Daley discussed his previous problems with fizzy drinks

The British athlete is also sober and told the publication: ‘I don’t drink alcohol, do drugs or smoke. I’m really boring, but I will live forever’

Pop sensation Jojo revealed in the run-up to her 21st birthday last year that she does not drink alcohol and that the plans for her big day would be altered accordingly.

‘I want to do everything but alcohol, everything but bar. Because normally at a 21st birthday, you get s***faced, that’s what you do on your 21st. 

‘But for me I don’t enjoy drinking I really don’t. Believe it or not, I was a bad girl, I did some bad things but I don’t drink.

‘I have before. I’ve drank in other countries where it’s legal. I’m open about it. I’ve drank in the comfort of my own home with my family. 

‘I’ve tried it, hated it. So for my 21st birthday we’re going to do everything but alcohol.’

In a day in the life feature for The Telegraph in January, Daley discussed his previous problems with fizzy drinks, saying ‘the last thing I need is an energy drink’, and added he would ‘rather be fat and happy than follow a restrictive diet’.

The British athlete is also sober and told the publication: ‘At 8.30pm, I’m watching from the beginning for the third time, just to show you how dull I am. 

‘I don’t drink alcohol, do drugs or smoke. I’m really boring, but I will live forever.’