# Big Brother's step problem, and Charlotte's answer > A teenage quadruple amputee took her legs off to get into the Big Brother house, and viewers turned on the show. - Title: Big Brother's step problem, and Charlotte's answer · Dailymail - Summary: A teenage quadruple amputee took her legs off to get into the Big Brother house, and viewers turned on the show. Access that depends on a heel staying on is… - Keywords: big brother, disability access, reality tv, itv, charlotte, news, entertainment, Big, Brother's, step, problem, Charlotte's - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16129687/Big-Brother-fans-blast-shows-lack-disability-access-quadruple-amputee-housemate-remove-prosthetic-legs-enter-house.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-09-14T14:21:56+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: big brother, disability access, reality tv, itv, charlotte, news, entertainment ## A launch night gone wrong Big Brother returned to ITV on Sunday with a live show for its 23rd series. One housemate's entrance turned into the story of the night. ## Meet Charlotte An 18-year-old student from Oxford, one of 16 housemates walking into the west London house. She is a quadruple amputee. ## Meningitis at three Charlotte lost her hands and feet to meningitis when she was three years old. She wears prosthetic legs day to day. ## She forgets people stare In her introductory VT, Charlotte joked about misreading the looks she gets in public. > I'll be like, 'Oh my God, I must be looking quite nice today!' and then I remember it's actually because I've got no limbs ## The standard entrance Every housemate got the same routine. Driven to an outdoor stage, then up a short flight of steps to be greeted by hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best. ## The heel came off As Charlotte got out of the car, her high heel slipped off her prosthetic foot. The moment stalled the whole arrival. ## Will rushes in Presenter Will Best hurried over to try to put the shoe back on, live on air, before the camera cut away. ## No, my legs AJ came over to help too. What Charlotte asked for next was not what the hosts expected. > can you take them off?' before clarifying 'no, no my legs ## Up the stairs without legs With Will's help, Charlotte climbed the steps to the stage having removed her prosthetics entirely. > My legs! My shoe came off. I'm so sorry, I had to take my legs off. ## Nothing to apologise for AJ reassured the teenager on the spot as the studio crowd cheered her onto the stage. ## Her own entrance line Charlotte walked in and owned it, then explained the situation to her new housemates without missing a beat. > I'm in the Big Brother House with no legs! ## Viewers turn on the show Fans on X said casting a disabled housemate meant nothing if the front door was not built for her. > Big Brother being quick to cast disabled people but failing to make the house entrance accessible is just an absolute mockery ## Pure disbelief online The criticism was less about the accident and more about whether anyone had planned for it at all. > No are you actually joking?! THEY DIDN'T PLAN AN ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE FOR CHARLOTTE???? ## The show responds A Big Brother spokesperson said the production worked with Charlotte and a specialist access co-ordinator to agree her arrangements in advance. > A plan was put in place based on those discussions and agreed with Charlotte; however, she had an unforeseen issue with her shoe. ## A ramp was offered The Daily Mail understands ITV offered Charlotte a ramp and she said she would rather take the stairs. Will had rehearsed the entrance with her. ## The house was adapted ITV made a number of changes inside the house to meet Charlotte's access needs, again after consulting her and the access co-ordinator. ## Checked on afterwards Big Brother is thought to have spoken to Charlotte after the live launch, and she confirmed she was fine. ## Already the favourite Coral put Charlotte at 5-1 to win the show and the £100,000 prize, the shortest odds in the house. Fans called her an icon within minutes. > Okay Charlotte is already an icon ## What £100,000 buys Charlotte said she would split any winnings between savings and new prosthetics. Each leg costs around £25,000. > my prosthetic legs are about £25,000 per leg, so probably put half in savings and half on that ## The ordinary is the point Cameras run 24 hours a day, and Charlotte expects the mundane stuff to land hardest with viewers. > people are surprised at anything I do, even normal things like cooking, doing my makeup, getting dressed ## Key takeaway Access that depends on a heel staying on is not access, but Charlotte walked in anyway and became the favourite to win.