Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault
Brand, who was born in Essex, rose to fame in as a stand-up comedian, performing at the Hackney Empire in 2000 and later the Edinburgh Fringe.
He later moved into broadcasting, hosting national television and radio programmes.
The turning point in his career came in the mid-2000s, when he hosted Big Brother's Big Mouth, a companion show to the hugely popular reality series Big Brother.
It provided the springboard he was looking for and led to him becoming one of the most sought-after presenters in the UK.
Brand went on to host the NME, MTV and Brit awards ceremonies, was gifted his own debate series by E4, and fronted the UK leg of charity concert Live Earth.
But he was never far away from controversy, particularly at awards ceremonies - which provided the kind of live, anything-can-happen chaos where he was most at home.
His career included hosting radio shows on the BBC, in particular for 6 Music and Radio 2, between 2006 and 2008.
But inappropriate phone calls he made to the Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs during a show in 2008 prompted a huge scandal - and ultimately led to his dismissal.
He rebounded with a Hollywood career, starring in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek.
Recent years have seen him take a new direction - particularly since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Brand grew his following on YouTube as he discussed scepticism surrounding the disease.
He has developed a cult following for his views on politics and society, through videos which challenge the mainstream reporting of a range of subjects and often amplify conspiracy theories. He has also established himself as a wellness guru.
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Original Big Brother stars now from Nasty Nick's new life to business success
Big Brother series one was a cultural reset - but what happened to the likes of Craig Phillips, Anna Nolan, and 'Nasty' Nick Bateman after the cameras stopped rolling? In the summer of 2000, British TV was forever transformed when 10 strangers entered a house in Bow, East London, allowing the nation to observe their every move. The first series of Big Brother was a cultural game-changer - predating online memes, Love Island, or TikTok, this was the programme that sparked nationwide conversation and collective voting. With only one eviction per week, live shows on Friday nights, and no contact with the outside world, Big Brother 1 turned Craig, Anna, Melanie, and of course, 'Nasty Nick' into household names in the era before social media. But what happened to the original housemates after the cameras stopped rolling? Here's an update on the Class of 2000 - from building empires and starting families to seeking a quieter life in Argentina, reports the Daily Record. Craig Phillips He walked into the house as a builder from Liverpool, but emerged as the UK's first-ever Big Brother winner. Just days after bagging the £70,000 prize money, Craig made headlines by donating all of it to his mate Joanne Harris, who required a life-saving heart and lung transplant. Within six days of his victory, the target was reached due to a nationwide wave of generosity and celebrity support. Post-Big Brother, Craig established himself as a DIY guru, hosting numerous home makeover programmes like 60 Minute Makeover, Trading Up, and Big Strong Boys. In 2000, he even released a charity single At This Time of Year, which reached number 14 in the UK charts and raised more than £40,000 for the Down's Syndrome Association. He later established a production company, Avent Productions, and became a regular face on Discovery Realtime and the Forces Broadcasting Service. In recent years, Craig and his wife Laura have been running the successful Mr and Mrs DIY YouTube channel, assisting fans with home improvements in a fun way. They tied the knot in 2018, are parents to two children, and featured on Millionaire Age Gap Love in 2020. Anna Nolan A lesbian ex-nun was not your typical reality show contestant in 2000 - and that's precisely why Anna stood out. She ended up as the runner-up and quickly gained recognition for her composed demeanour in the house, often playing the mediator during tense situations (including Nick's downfall). Post Big Brother, Anna transitioned into broadcasting - hosting BBC series like Anna in Wonderland and Closure, before returning to Ireland where she co-presented The Afternoon Show on RTÉ for three years. She's hosted everything from paranormal documentaries to food shows. Behind the scenes, Anna built a robust career as a producer and development executive. She directed shows like Room To Improve, Operation Transformation, and The Great Irish Bake Off, and as of 2024, she's head of development at COCO Content, producing major TV events. Darren Ramsay Third-place finalist Darren Ramsay brought a quiet charm and sincerity to the Big Brother house - but after the show, he largely withdrew from the public eye. Darren, once a familiar face on shows like Good Food Live and The Weakest Link, took an unexpected turn when he trained as a flight attendant for the TV show Airline, only to be asked to leave before qualifying. Nowadays, Darren leads a more private life, working the typical 9-5 at a research company. Melanie Hill Mel was often the centre of attention in the Big Brother house – not least for her romance with Tom – but left the spotlight to pursue journalism, writing for The Guardian and presenting the E4 series Chained. However, it wasn't all glamour for Mel; she opened up about the darker side of fame in her 2002 open letter How Big Brother Destroyed My Life, discussing the intense media scrutiny and public harassment she faced. She even advised women against auditioning for the reality show, citing the psychological impact of instant celebrity. Now a marketing director, Mel is also a mother to son Otis, whom she has with her partner Glenn. Tom McDermott Remembered for his Big Brother stint and relationship with Claire Strutton, Tom became one half of the show's first couple. After welcoming their son Pierce in 2001 and a stint living in Marbella running a property website together, Tom and Claire parted ways in 2004. Tom has since returned to the UK and is now successfully managing his own property business in Cornwall. Claire Strutton House flirt Claire has made it big as a successful entrepreneur. She's happily married to businessman Ian Radford, and together they're living it up with a luxury beach resort in Marbella and own several buzzing nightclubs in Gibraltar and Essex. Andy Davidson Andy was the second housemate to be evicted, and is remembered for his headline-grabbing kiss with Mel. These days he's traded reality TV drama for corporate strategy, taking on the role of head of client strategy at Flamingo, a brand and insight consultancy based in London. Caroline O'Shea Caroline brought laughs and attitude to the Big Brother house, and her life after the show remained quite the mix. Rumours swirl that she went back to selling adult toys, dabbled in music, and wasn't shy to do some topless modelling. On top of popping up in reality TV round-ups like The Weakest Link and The Only Way Is Essex, Caroline has also tested the waters in acting and keeps her profile alive on casting websites. Nichola Holt Artistic soul Nichola, who coined the phrase "It's just the game!" tried to chart a dance single with those very words, but it peaked modestly at number 72. Post-fame, she married personal trainer Yas Parr on a Mexican beach, although their union lasted just 18 months. Now approaching 50, Nichola enjoys a quieter life in Bolton, raising her daughter away from public scrutiny. Sada Walkington Sada, the first person ever to be shown the door in Big Brother UK, traded in her reality TV notoriety for a quieter existence. Relocating to Argentina, she has embarked on a new journey as a yoga instructor and is devoted to raising her twins, Indigo and Padma, who were born in 2005. She's openly criticised her portrayal on the show, condemning the producers for casting her as a "dippy hippie" stereotype. Enjoying a serene life away from the chaos of the Big Brother spotlight, it's evident that Sada relishes her peaceful retreat abroad. Nick 'Nasty Nick' Bateman The infamous 'Nasty Nick' became a part of television infamy by attempting to rig nominations in the house, culminating in a memorable confrontation with housemate Craig – a moment that stands as one of British TV's most unforgettable confrontations. Having left his notorious image behind, Nick has since opted for a much quieter lifestyle. His sporadic appearances on shows like Ultimate Big Brother are now a thing of the past, and he currently enjoys life under the radar in Australia, turning the page on his days in the public eye.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Harry and Meghan's 'fate sealed' by Queen's crunch Trooping the Colour decision
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Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Original Big Brother stars now from Nasty Nick's very different new life to huge business success
From yoga retreats to consulting firms, the ex-housemates from the first-ever Big Brother have led very different lives since the show ended. Back in the summer of 2000, British TV changed forever when 10 strangers walked into a house in Bow, East London, and let the nation watch their every move. Big Brother Series One was a cultural reset - long before memes, Love Island or TikTok, this was the show that got the nation talking and getting together to vote. With just one eviction a week, Friday night live shows, and no outside communication, Big Brother 1 made Craig, Anna, Melanie, and of course, 'Nasty Nick' household names in the pre-social media age. But what became of the OG housemates after the cameras stopped rolling? Here's what the Class of 2000 are up to now - from building empires and raising families to escaping to Argentina for a quieter life. Craig Phillips He entered the house as a builder from Liverpool, but walked out of Big Brother as the UK's very first winner. Just days after pocketing the £70,000 prize money, he made headlines by donating the lot to his friend Joanne Harris, who needed a life-saving heart and lung transplant. Within six days of his win, the target was met thanks to a national outpouring of generosity and celebrity backing. Post-BB, Craig carved out a niche as a DIY expert, fronting dozens of home makeover shows like 60 Minute Makeover, Trading Up, and Big Strong Boys. In 2000, he even released a charity single 'At This Time of Year', which hit No.14 in the UK charts and raised over £40,000 for the Down's Syndrome Association. He went on to launch a production company, Avent Productions, and became a familiar face on Discovery Realtime and the Forces Broadcasting Service. In more recent years, Craig and his wife Laura run the successful Mr and Mrs DIY YouTube channel, helping fans tackle home improvements with a smile. They married in 2018, have two children, and appeared on Millionaire Age Gap Love in 2020. Anna Nolan A lesbian ex-nun wasn't your average reality show contestant in 2000 - and that's exactly why Anna Nolan stood out. She finished as runner-up and quickly became known for her calm presence in the house, often mediating during tense moments (including Nick's downfall). After Big Brother, Anna transitioned into broadcasting - presenting BBC series like Anna in Wonderland and Closure, before heading back to Ireland where she co-hosted The Afternoon Show on RTÉ for three years. She's fronted everything from paranormal documentaries to food shows. Behind the scenes, Anna built a strong career as a producer and development executive. She helmed shows like Room To Improve, Operation Transformation, and The Great Irish Bake Off, and as of 2024, she's Head of Development at COCO Content, producing major TV events. Darren Ramsay Third-place finalist Darren Ramsay brought quiet charm and earnestness to the Big Brother house - but after the show, he largely retreated from the limelight. He popped up on shows like Good Food Live and The Weakest Link, and even trained as a flight attendant for TV show Airline - though he was asked to leave before qualifying. Today Darren lives a relatively private life, working a 9-5 job at a research company. Melanie Hill Mel was one of the most talked-about contestants in the house - and not just because of that romance with fellow housemate Tom. She left the show and immediately dived into journalism, writing for The Guardian and fronting E4 series Chained. But her experience wasn't all glitz. In a 2002 open letter titled 'How Big Brother Destroyed My Life', Mel spoke candidly about the media scrutiny and public harassment she endured. She later urged women not to audition for the show, revealing the mental toll of sudden fame. She went on to become a marketing director, and today, Mel is a mum to son Otis, who she shares with her partner Glenn. Tom McDermott Tom's time in the house is probably best remembered for his relationship with Claire Strutton - the first Big Brother lovebirds. The pair had a son, Pierce, in 2001 and even moved to Marbella to run a property website together. They split in 2004, and Tom eventually returned to the UK where he now runs his own property business in Cornwall. Claire Strutton Once dubbed the house flirt, Claire has since become a successful entrepreneur. She's now married to businessman Ian Radford and the couple own a luxury beach resort in Marbella, along with a string of popular nightclubs in Gibraltar and Essex. Andy Davidson Andy was the second housemate evicted, but not before sharing a much-talked-about kiss with Melanie. He's long since swapped reality TV for the boardroom, working as Head of Client Strategy at Flamingo, a brand and insight consultancy in London. Caroline O'Shea Caroline brought plenty of sass and humour to the house, but her post-BB journey has been more unpredictable. It is said she returned to selling adult toys, briefly pursued a music career, and even posed for topless modelling offers. She has occasionally appeared in reality TV specials, including The Weakest Link and The Only Way Is Essex. She also tried her hand at acting and remains active on casting websites. Nichola Holt Nichola was known for her artistic streak and catchphrase 'It's just the game!' She released a dance single by that very name, though it only reached number 72 in the charts. She later married personal trainer Yas Parr in a swimsuit and sarong on a Mexican beach, but the couple split after 18 months. Now in her late 40s, Nichola lives in Bolton with her daughter and keeps a low profile away from the spotlight. Sada Walkington The first person ever evicted from Big Brother UK, Sada has embraced a very different path. She moved to Argentina, became a yoga instructor, and is raising twins, Indigo and Padma, born in 2005. She has publicly criticised the way she was edited on the show, claiming producers turned her into a 'dippy hippie' caricature. Her quiet new life abroad is a far cry from the frenzy of the Big Brother house - and it seems just how she likes it. Nick Bateman (Nasty Nick) Nick Bateman made TV history by trying to manipulate the nominations - and was famously confronted by Craig in what remains one of the most iconic live showdowns in British television. Since then, Nick has lived a much more low-key life. He popped up in a few reality specials, including Ultimate Big Brother, but nowadays lives in Australia and has left his reality TV past firmly behind him.
