Alexander O'Neal: CBB house became unbearable

The singer’s shock departure from the Big Brother house came on the heels of another heated row with celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

The 61-year-old said the stress of being in the famous house “became unbearable”.

In his first interview since leaving the house, Alexander told host Emma Willis: “I did it for myself and for my housemates.”

Speaking about Perez, he said: “He taunts you.”

Emma asked if Katie Price entering the house had changed it and he said: “Definitely, it changed everything.”

And asked if the mood in the house had changed after her arrival, he said: “Yeah, for several reasons. She’s lovely, I’m feeling her, but she came in and held court quick.”

He called her the “queen bee”, and added: “Even with her fame and notoriety, she is so down to earth, I was honoured to be in her presence.”

The star said they had talked about recording together.

Describing housemate Katie Hopkins, he said she was a “a very kind woman” and “a lovely lady”.

Emma asked him if he would recommend Big Brother and he replied: “Maybe to some enemies.”

Alexander had to be formally warned over his use of a homophobic slur during a row with Perez.

“You’re just going to sit there with that silly-ass f***** look on your face,” Alexander said then.

Housemates rushed to call time as an apparently shaken Hilton said: “He called me the F-word, which is incredibly offensive.”

But last night’s show suggested it was another F-word – food – that pushed Alexander out of the house for good.

The sight of Perez helping prepare the housemates’ dinner prompted the ageing musician to declare that he would not be eating anything Hilton had “breathed” on.

“You want some son? Get some. F*** you,” Alexander yelled as he stormed into the garden. “I didn’t want him breathing on my f***ing food. Simple as that.”

The outburst sent Perez straight into the Big Brother diary room, where he tearfully claimed he feared for his safety.

“I am shaking when I’m even near him,” Perez said. ” Everybody out there is on edge for my safety.”

Alexander later entered the diary room and did not return.

The remaining housemates, who include glamour model Price, outspoken columnist Katie Hopkins and George Best’s son Calum, listened to a message from Alexander explaining his decision to quit.

In it he said: “To all my housemates, I’ve had a great experience with you guys and I have mad love for almost all of you.

“I want you guys not to be sad that I’m leaving and to not let my departure interrupt your experience.”

Katie Hopkins immediately rounded on Perez, telling him: “You are an utter, utter despicable human being.”

Though Perez had led the housemates’ nominations to be voted out of the Big Brother house, O’Neal’s departure means there will be no eviction on tomorrow’s show. But the nominations would stand and a twist was in store, viewers learned.

Alexander became the third person to leave the show unexpectedly, following the removal of former Coronation Street star Ken Morley and ex-Baywatch actor Jeremy Jackson.

Ken, 72, was evicted from the show for using “unacceptable language” including repeated use of the word “negro”.

Jeremy, 34, was booted out after former Page Three girl Chloe Goodman claimed he drunkenly tried to look at her breasts while the pair were alone in the toilet.

Alexander had a string of hits in the 1980s and 1990s including Criticise and Fake.

But chart success dried up and he has appeared in several reality TV shows including a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link, singing show Just The Two Of Us and Wife Swap UK.

He went into Celebrity Big Brother saying he wanted to win.