'Nasty' Nick Bateman's life as a 'ghost' after changing his name and moving overseas - 25 years after Big Brother earned him the title of 'Britain's most hated man'
The city broker made a name for himself when he appeared on the inaugural series of Big Brother, with viewers watching on in shock as he attempted to manipulate nominations by passing notes between housemates.
While seemingly tame today, such was the scandal at the time that Nick was dubbed 'the most hated man in Britain'.
Overnight, he went from an unknown to dominating the front pages of the national press - with one newspaper going as far to launch a 'kick out Nick' campaign, and fly a remote-controlled helicopter over the house to drop leaflets in warning his fellow housemates.
Now, Nick lives his life as a 'ghost', having reverted to his first name Jack - he opted to go by his middle name Nick while at boarding school.
Yet the road from national hate figure to reclusive expat has been far from smooth - with Nick partying with Brad Pitt, splitting from 'Lovely' Lynette - his wife, and being embroiled in feuds with his former Housemates.
As Big Brother marks its 25th anniversary this year, Daily Mail charts the rise and fall of the show's original villain, Mr 'Nasty' Nick.
The city broker made a name for himself when he appeared on the first series of Big Brother, where he attempted to manipulate nominations by passing notes between housemates
Nowadays, Nick is as far removed from the celebrity circuit as one could be.
He moved to Australia in 2013, splitting his time between Brisbane and Sydney and working in marketing.
He was awarded Australian citizenship in 2022.
Nick revealed last year that he enjoys living life without being recognised, telling The Telegraph: 'It's nice to be a ghost. Sometimes people look at me curiously, but they usually think I was on The Bill.'
While he changed his name, he insisted he was never bothered by the 'Nasty' label.
He claimed: 'It's better to have a nickname than no nickname. How many contestants can you remember from the first or second series?
'I couldn't do anything about it. Your true friends and family, and anybody with an ounce of intelligence, knows that's not you.'
His move also came a year after he split from his wife dubbed 'Lovely' Lynnette Peck.
After his stint on Big Brother, he complained that the show had derailed his love life, moaning: 'Before BB, I had no problem with women, but now they can't get away fast enough.'
However, Craig reignited their feud after the catch up, claiming Nick told him 'lie after lie' during their meeting - prompting a furious tweet from Nick
Yet he managed to find love with fashion magazine writer Lynnette and the pair tied the knot in 2007.
In 2011 he even went into business with her - joining her online fashion business, Lovely's Vintage Emporium in 2011.
He left the business when the couple broke up the following year, but Lynette, who has written for magazines including Cosmopolitan, Now, Vogue Australia, and New Woman, built it into an award winning brand.
By 2016 their divorce was made official during a hearing of just 30 seconds, at the Central London Court.
In 2022 and 2023 he posted pictures with a mystery blonde woman - whose identity he did not reveal and he has not shared more photographs since.
When Big Brother was revived in 2023 he spoke about his new life in Australia, sharing on ITV's Lorraine: 'I've been here 12 years and it's just much nicer. Blue skies, great weather, great food. Its refreshing and its nice to be somewhere where you're happy!'
He also reflected on his reality TV stint, musing: 'I think I was pretty tame compared to what most contestants got up to now on reality TV in the UK. It was quite sweet really looking back on it.
'We just thought no one was watching. We used to think producers were playing tricks and playing crowd chanting outside.'
During his time Down Under, Nick couldn't fully get away from his Big Brother past - as he was reunited with Craig Phillips during a chance meeting in Australia.
They put aside their differences and met up while Craig and his wife Laura were travelling around the country.
However, Craig reignited their feud after the catch up, claiming Nick told him 'lie after lie' during their meeting.
He said: 'The last person I saw was Nasty Nick. Laura and I went travelling around Asia and then went on to Australia - Sydney and Perth.
'I knew Nick was living in Sydney so I spent four or five hours with him over a couple of bottles of wine. Sometimes you can catch him when he's a bit normal but because Laura was there it was lie after lie after lie!'
Taking umbrage with the accusation, Nick publicly blasted Craig on X/Twitter, writing: 'It's funny that the people you invite to your house to stay for free and take time out to see when they visit you in another country, are the ones to throw under the bus for a few pounds.'
Nick and Craig made history in 2000 as two of the 10 civilians chosen to make history on series one of Big Brother.
During Nick's stay in the house, he was the only contestant never to receive a single eviction nomination - yet was soon dubbed 'Nasty Nick' by the press after he was seen playing Housemates off against one another.
Such was the furore that after 34 days, producers tipped off his fellow Housemates and he was confronted by eventual winner Craig Phillips.
Having been caught out and exposed, Nick was ejected from the show.
Speaking at a press conference after his removal, Nick downplayed the drama, reasoning: 'I haven't committed a murder, it's a very small error.'
Asked what he thought of his 'most hated man in Britain' label, he replied: 'I'm just an ordinary guy who took part in an unusual experiment amid scrutiny.
'I don't think the label attaches itself to me. I was just taking part in a game show.'
Despite the public backlash he received, Nick's cheating was a financially savvy move - with The Sun paying him £75,000 for an interview - more than the £70,000 prize fee for winning Big Brother.
Continuing to lean into his villain status, he went on to publish a book titled Nasty Nick: How to Be a Right B*****d, which racked up at least 200,000 advance orders.
He also found himself rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty - partying with the likes of Brad Pitt, Guy Ritchie and Vinnie Jones at the London premiere of Snatch.
Nick went on to enjoy gigs on local radio and in many pantomimes - playing the villain of course.
Yet fame soon dried up and over the years Nick's public appearances began to dwindle - until he made his reality TV return with 2010's Ultimate Big Brother.
The all-stars series gathered legendary housemates over the years in a final farewell for Big Brother after Channel 4 announced they were axing the show.
Nick fared better this time, finishing in fifth place, yet in a surprising interview with Daily Mail before he entered the house, Nick confessed that he wasn't surprised the show had been axed, noting: 'its decline into a tawdry freak show has been relentless.'
He went on: 'I am among the dwindling audience who watches it - when I bother to at all - with a queasy sense of uneasiness as the show has lost its innocence as well as the originality of its format.
'Big Brother has debased our culture, created melodrama out of human frailty and disability, and encouraged the worst excesses of misbehaviour.'
Big Brother returns with the series 22 launch on Sunday, September 28 at 9pm on ITVX.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Georgia Toffolo looks carefree as she shares sizzling bikini-clad snaps during sunny Marbella getaway with husband James Watt amid BrewDog founder's business woes
Georgia Toffolo flaunted her toned figure in a skimpy bikini as she relaxed at the beach while on holiday in Marbella with husband James Watt. The Made In Chelsea star, 30, took to her Instagram on Sunday to share a slew of sizzling snaps of her soaking up the sun in a tiny navy blue two-piece. Displaying her chiselled midriff and long legs, she stretched out on a deckchair with her feet in the surf to top up her bronzed glow. Georgia also slipped into a semi-sheer maxi skirt and grabbed a hand-held fan to pose for a string of stunning photos on the luxury getaway. Taking to the caption, she raved about her relaxation day and offered tips to her followers, writing: 'This and not knowing what day it is! P.S. take this as a sign to buy a beach chair like the locals have. YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!!!' Georgia looked utterly carefree in the snaps, despite her husband James' company being hit by another major blow. It has been revealed that BrewDog's beers have been axed by almost 2,000 pubs across Britain, as the embattled brewers' popularity continues to wane. James founded the company in 2007 by with Martin Dickie, with firm rising to prominence in the 2010s amid a surge in demand for independent beers and hoppy IPAs. However in recent years, the company's fortunes have started to turn, with their range of draught beers having disappeared entirely from around 1,860 pubs in the last two years, according to private industry data. The blow means BrewDog's UK distribution has been cut by more than a third. It also shows that its best-known beer, Punk IPA, has suffered the worst loss after being removed from 1,980 pubs – a 52 per cent decline in distribution. Pubs are now reducing their offerings or opting for rival beers such as Camden Town and Beavertown instead. The data, which was seen by the Telegraph, revealed most of the pubs scrapping BrewDog beers are part of large chains, removing a key source of revenue for the brewer at the same time as it struggles to revive its fortunes. BrewDog recorded losses of £59m in 2023 and £30.5m in 2022, with its CEO admitting in a recent interview that the company would be making another loss this year. It has been revealed that BrewDog's beers have been axed by almost 2,000 pubs across Britain, as the embattled brewers' popularity continues to wane (James pictured in BrewDog's) Last month, the company announced the closure of 10 of its own branded bars across the UK, including its flagship site in Aberdeen, after deciding they were not 'commercially viable'. And the chain had started the year by closing six pubs across the world, including two in England, three in Europe and one in England. The firm is continuing to weather accusations of an image problem after ditching its claim to be 'carbon negative' after it ditched offsetting schemes that it claimed were both too expensive and not efficient enough to justify the label. It had already been criticised for using the label by advertising watchdogs, and was slammed by environmentalists for its claim of creating a carbon-negative forest in Scotland after it was revealed that half of the 500,000 saplings had already died. BrewDog's reputation has taken a hammering in recent years after being embroiled in a number of publicity storms. The firm was accused by former workers in an open letter in 2021 of having a 'culture of fear' within the business, with 'toxic attitudes' towards junior staff, with BrewDog apologising and promising to 'listen, learn and act' James later admitted to being 'too intense and demanding' amid a workplace culture row where he was accused of inappropriate behaviour and abusing his power. Speaking with on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast about his leadership, he admitted to previously pushing people 'too far' because of his 'high standards', but insisted that his actions were done with '100 per cent good intentions.' James then stepped back from the role of CEO in May 2024 amidst a flurry of accusations of improper conduct, being replaced by current CEO James Taylor. He left three months after Ofcom rejected a complaint he had lodged against the BBC after it made a documentary outlining misconduct allegations. The self-described BrewDog 'Captain' faced a number of improper conduct allegations in 2021 concerning female staff, and was revealed to have invested in Heineken, contrasting with his brewery's anti-establishment 'punk' image. James denied claims that he made female bartenders feel 'uncomfortable' and 'powerless' and that he would take intoxicated women on private late-night tours of the brewery. He went on to tie the knot with Georgia earlier this year, onboard a fishing boat just off the coast of the picturesque town of Gardenstown in Aberdeenshire. The pair got engaged in October after the millionaire proposed with an eight carat triple-diamond studded band estimated to be worth £200,000, while on holiday in Greece for Georgia's 30th birthday. In May, it was revealed the pair are worth a staggering £425 million, according to The Sunday Times, overtaking the likes of Ed Sheeran, Lord Sainsburys, Harry Styles and Lewis Hamilton.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Roman army descends on Birdlip for festival
A recreated Roman army has marched on a quiet Cotswolds village - as part of a new festival celebrating the history of the area. Sunday morning saw the first ever Birdlip Roman Festival transform the village, with historical costumes and displays put on show by enthusiasts. Gloucestershire's Roman heritage was also on display, with archaeological activities put on by a number of organisations including the Museum of Gloucester and Coronium Museum. Festivalgoer Martin Smith told the BBC he was "super excited" about the event, adding: "I like [learning about] their day-to-day life and learning how they would have lived in this landscape during the period." Fellow attendee Kate Peake, who visited with her daughter and her mother Angela - who made her costume - said it was "brilliant" to have a Roman festival in the area. "We live just down the road, we love history and we thought we'd dress up to come and visit today," she added. Re-enactment group the Ermine Street Guard took a starring role in Sunday's festival, marching through the village in authentically recreated military wear. The area boasts a rich Roman history, with the ancient civilisation making Gloucester a key site for its empire, and many important archaeological finds have been uncovered throughout the years. Hundreds of people attended the festival, with a number of stalls selling local products, antiques and food also forming part of the event. As well as local museums putting on displays, Cotswold Archaeology and Chedworth Roman Villa were also on site with family-friendly activities.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
We pay male escorts up to £300 an hour for mind-blowing sex – people think it's sleazy but there are so many benefits
SICK of disappointing dates or boring bedroom action? For countless women, the thought of another uninspired romp is enough to make them scream into their pillows. But what if the most extreme solution was also the smartest? Forget waiting for romance — increasing numbers of women are now taking matters (and pleasure) into their own hands, by paying for exactly what they want, when they want it. In fact, one in 20 married women over 50 are now so unhappy with their sex lives, they would consider turning to male escorts to spice things up. It's not just fed-up wives, either — younger women are also ditching dating apps, swapping swipes for guaranteed satisfaction with gigolos. Type 'male escort' into TikTok and thousands of videos pop up, with clean-cut hunks explaining why smart, successful women fork out for their services. And far from keeping it quiet, young women are now openly sharing their escort experiences. PA Laura Fox, 29, from Walsall, West Midlands, turned to escorts after her last relationship fizzled out. 'I've always been fascinated by escorts,' she says. 'When I was 19, I found out my friend's mum used to hire them to accompany her to events. 'Until that point, I'd assumed escorts were something men used — not women. 'But seeing how she carried herself changed my view.' Far from being sleazy or taboo, Laura suddenly saw escorts as 'the ultimate power move', with women in control. So when, aged 26, she was newly single after the end of a three-year relationship, using an escort seemed a no-brainer. 'I just wasn't ready for the faff of dating apps — the endless scrolling, the awkward messaging, the guys who want to sext but never meet,' she says. 'Then I remembered my friend's mum and had a real eureka moment.' Curious, Laura chatted to some pals who directed her to Gentlemen4hire, the UK's longest-running male escort company. From the hundreds of men on offer, she selected a well-groomed man in his thirties called James. 'NO GAME-PLAYING' 'Since I didn't have a work do or wedding to attend, I looked into 'boyfriend experiences' — basically male escorts who'll take you on dates and act the part, no questions asked,' she says. 'James was tall, dark and handsome and we had similar interests, such as good food and loving animals. 'We discussed fees — escorts typically cost from £220 per hour — and boundaries, such as what's included, what's not. 'It was strangely reassuring and James was clear, polite and respectful.' Laura arranged to meet her date in a local gastropub, but admits she was a bag of nerves beforehand. She says: 'I almost didn't go in. "But James instantly put me at ease, asking lots of questions and being friendly and kind. "It felt like a normal date — except I knew exactly how the night would go. 'There was no game-playing, no awkward 'will-he-won't-he?' tension. 'And the fee even covered the meal, so it was like I was out with a guy who'd paid for dinner, too.' Laura says her first escort experience was like a 'typical first date', with a kiss on the cheek at the end of the night, not red-hot passion. 'I didn't want to be worrying about sex the first time,' she explains. 'But after that I just booked what I fancied that day. 'And every time we did 'do the deed', it certainly lived up to expectations.' Since that first date, Laura has paid for more than ten experiences — sometimes because she's wanted male company, other times because she's craved a night of satisfying sex. Escorts tend to be experienced, attentive and entirely focused on my pleasure — a rare combo these days Laura Fox 'Some nights end with a goodbye hug, others with fireworks,' she smiles. 'Honestly, sex with an escort is often better than a one-night stand. "Escorts tend to be experienced, attentive and entirely focused on my pleasure — a rare combo these days. 'And you skip all the usual emotional admin that comes with dating. 'There are no mixed signals, no awkward texts the next day, no-one nicking your duvet at 3am.' Given all the benefits, Laura says it's no wonder so many ordinary women are paying for pleasure. 'I totally get why more and more of them are doing this,' she says. 'It's not just a man's world any more — we're taking control of our pleasure, our time, and our expectations. It's win-win.' 'NO PRESSURE' Despite the considerable costs, Laura plans to continue using escorts until she meets Mr Right. And despite her glowing reviews of the men she's hired, she's never been in danger of getting emotionally attached. She says: 'I guess some people do, but I don't because one of the reasons I started paying for escorts was because I wasn't ready for a serious relationship.' Like Laura, Natasha Greenwood, 34, from London, says booking escorts has been a game-changer. The PR executive, whose last long-term relationship ended seven years ago, reveals: 'For me, engaging with male escorts has become a way to explore my sexuality and seek companionship on my own terms. 'I turned to escorts after growing tired of the dating scene — boring men, boring sex and endless swiping on apps. "So I thought: 'Why not?'' Despite feeling on edge in the build-up to her first encounter, Natasha says her jitters were short-lived. 'Surprisingly, I felt very relaxed and enjoyed the whole experience,' she says. 'I had to pay a ten per cent deposit up front, which felt a bit strange. "But this was to cover the dinner. 'Afterwards, we went to a hotel for sex. It wasn't cheap — £300 per hour — but it was worth every penny.' For Natasha, who says passion dwindled two years into her last relationship, getting her needs met between the sheets is a huge plus of using gigolos. 'When I'm with a male escort, I feel free to ask for exactly what I want in bed. "There's no shame, no second-guessing and no pressure to be anything but myself. I can be bolder, kinkier and more experimental. 'I get to enjoy sex with a hot, confident man, with no strings attached. It's like dating on steroids.' Natasha admits there is still a stigma around women 'and particularly black women' using escorts, but stresses there's nothing sleazy about the practice. 'I appreciate the professionalism and discretion these men bring,' she explains. 'It allows me to fully enjoy the moment without the emotional minefield that can come with relationships. 'I keep male escorts on rotation, too. It's like having a fun new plaything every couple of months.' Using escorts doesn't come cheap and Natasha is spending less on holidays and other luxuries. Her friends and family are well aware of her escort use, as she often hires them as a 'plus one' for events or dinners. But she prefers to enjoy her escort experiences away from her own home. 'SEXUAL FREEDOM' 'We always end the night at a hotel. I prefer it that way,' she says. 'My space is mine and the fun stays just where I want it.' While some may raise eyebrows at the idea of so many women enjoying escorting services, both Laura and Natasha say that when it comes to intimacy, paying for what they desire has opened up a new world of sexual freedom. 'Everyone has the right to seek pleasure, intimacy and connection in ways that feel right to them,' says Natasha. 'This isn't about being desperate or giving up on love — it's reclaiming my pleasure and prioritising fulfilling, joyful experiences, in and out of the bedroom.' Names have been changed BUT REMEMBER: STAY SAFE SAFETY should always come first, says Sun sexpert Georgie Culley. When booking an escort, stick to reputable agencies. Too-good-to-be-true prices are a red flag. Generally, escorts from legitimate agencies will cost £150-plus per hour. Before meeting, arrange a video call first, so you can verify who they are and set clear boundaries. Ask to see their ID, too. Always meet in a public place such as a restaurant or bar first. And let a trusted friend know where you'll be and who you're meeting. Avoid sharing personal details like your home address until you feel comfortable. Never transfer money in advance, unless it's through a trusted agency platform. If you do make it to the bedroom, always practise safe sex. Due to the nature of their job, escorts will likely be sleeping with lots of people, so always use condoms. Most importantly, trust your gut. If anything feels off, walk away. Your safety and comfort are key.
