Celebrity Big Brother fans have been left shocked after finding out Patsy Palmer‘s real name.

During Wednesday night’s episode of the ITV show, the EastEnders actress, 52, joined Donna Preston, 38, in the kitchen for a chat.

Coming over to Donna, she said: ‘who ever knew that I could just be sitting here with you, meeting you, and eating a bit of bread.’

Donna replied: ‘Mhmmm, it’s crazy that I’m talking to you… Bianca. Pasty Palmer obviously, great name, really great name. But Bianca.’

‘My names not really Patsy Palmer though, it’s Julie,’ Patsy revealed.

A shocked Donna exclaimed: ‘F**k off. It’s not Julie,’ before Patsy replied: ‘It is, that’s my real name.’

Celebrity Big Brother fans have been left 'shocked' after finding out Patsy Palmer 's  (pictured) real name
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Celebrity Big Brother fans have been left ‘shocked’ after finding out Patsy Palmer ‘s  (pictured) real name

During Wednesday night's episode of the ITV show, the EastEnders actress, 52, joined Donna Preston in the kitchen for a chat (pictured Donna)
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During Wednesday night’s episode of the ITV show, the EastEnders actress, 52, joined Donna Preston in the kitchen for a chat (pictured Donna)

‘Is it? Why Pasty Palmer?’ Donna asked.

Patsy revealed: ‘It’s just my stage name. It’s my mums name.’

Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their shock at the revelation. They said: ‘Patsy telling donna her real name is Julie is the highlight of my celeb big brother so far #CBBUK;

‘The way Patsy revealed her real name was like something out of Eastenders… oh wait #CBBUK;

‘Everytime I see Donna realise Patsy’s real name is Julie, I burst out laughing! It’s comedy gold #CBBUK;

‘PATSY PALMERS NAME IS JULIE ????? #CBBUK;

‘Patsy Palmer real name is Julie?!! WHAAAT #cbbuk;

‘I love how casually Patsy just dropped the bombshell that her name is Julie #CBBUK;

As the two chatted, Patsy said: 'My names not really Patsy Palmer though, it's Julie'
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As the two chatted, Patsy said: ‘My names not really Patsy Palmer though, it’s Julie’


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Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their shock at the revelation

Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their shock at the revelation

‘I never knew Patsy’s real name was Julie;

‘I can’t get over the fact that Patsy Palmer’s real name is Julie #CBBUK;

‘I was today years old when I found out;

‘Patsy Palmer is a stage name and her real name is Julie #cbbuk.’

Patsy actually adopts her married name when she’s hunkered down in her Malibu abode as she previously revealed Americans don’t know who she is

The actress has built a serene life by the beach, after re-locating with her family back in 2014.

Yet while rubbing shoulders Stateside with the likes of supermodel Cindy Crawford, she goes under her married name Julie Merkell.

However, the TV star’s birth name is in fact Julie Anne Harris.

The TV star's birth name is in fact Julie Anne Harris (pictured at Smiley Charity Film Awards in March 2025)
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The TV star’s birth name is in fact Julie Anne Harris (pictured at Smiley Charity Film Awards in March 2025)

Eastenders’ Patsy Palmer gives her verdict on her fellow housemates

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During an appearance on This Morning in 2019, Patsy said: ‘They [fans] don’t know me [in America] and I have another name. My name is Julie really, so I thought, ‘I’m going to get back to calling myself my real name.

‘But I actually get so confused myself that sometimes I’ll say Patsy and sometimes I’ll say Julie. So now in Malibu they call me Patsy Julie.

‘Julie Anne Harris was my name, my married name is Julie Merkell’.

Read More

Celebrity Big Brother cast’s pay ‘REVEALED’ as one star earns £480k MORE than lowest paid housemate

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After joking that the two names even leaves herself confused at times, Patsy claimed that maybe she needs to go on Who Do You Think You Are to work it all out.

Patsy’s real name being revealed comes ahead of her entering ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother on Monday night.

Patsy is said to have been offered £100,000 for her time on the show, which is reported the ‘going rate’ for a long-running soap icon.

She is set to join the likes of Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, dancer Jojo Siwa, presenter Trisha Goddard and TOWIE’s Ella Rae Wise.

Last year, Sharon Osbourne earned a whopping £800,000 for just an eight day stint as a ‘celebrity lodger’, with her pal Louis Walsh taking home £500,000.

This year, Hollywood heavyweight Mickey is the highest paid housemate, with the actor’s earnings being a whopping £480,000 more than the lowest paid star.

Meanwhile reality star Ella is this year’s lowest earning housemate with the blonde bombshell taking home £20,000.