Overview
- Emily Hewertson, 25, made the remark during a late-night chat with Derry-born housemate Jenny Baird about Irish identity and healthcare.
- Hewertson contended Northern Ireland is prosperous under the British government and argued the NHS is below par compared with some European systems before calling it "a religious cult."
- Viewers flooded social media with criticism over her NHS comments and her take on Ireland, while others defended the exchange as frank opinion.
- Clips of the conversation have been widely shared on X and TikTok, reviving wider debates about Northern Ireland’s ties to the UK and the health service under the Labour government.
- Hewertson has made other political points on the show, including opposing non-national flags on council buildings, and she remains in the house with the live final scheduled tonight on ITV2.