Where the original Big Brother UK cast ended up, 25 years later
The original housemates entered the social experiment dubbed "volunteers", not contestants, with the aim of winning a £70,000 cash prize.
Host Davina McCall launched the groundbreaking reality TV series on Channel 4 on Tuesday, 18 July, back in 2000. Ten strangers, carefully selected by producers, entered the house for up to ten weeks to spend their summer cooped up together with a hot tub and chickens, while being filmed 24 hours a day.
Big Brother was a reality show created in the Netherlands. Originally billed as a psychological experiment, it saw a group of strangers living in a house together, completely cut off from the outside world and watched by cameras 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The housemates nominated each other to face the public vote, with one evicted every week until finally a winner was chosen to receive a cash prize. The housemates were also given tasks to complete in return for food and luxury items.
Big Brother moved to Channel 5 in 2011 after 12 series had aired. It came to an end in 2018 after eight more series. Davina McCall and Rylan presented a nostalgic highlights documentary, Big Brother: Best Shows Ever Show, in 2020 to mark Big Brother's 20th anniversary. Then, in 2023, ITV decided to bring back the ultimate fly-on-the-wall game show. There have also been 24 series of Celebrity Big Brother over the past 24 years.
Nowadays, Big Brother is more about finding fame than human interaction. So what happened to the first 11 housemates from 25 years ago?
Craig Phillips
Scouse handyman Craig Phillips won over viewers for being such a nice guy, as well as being one of the housemates who confronted cheating Nasty Nick (more on him later).
After winning the show, Phillips revealed he was giving all of his £70,000 prize money to his friend Joanne Harris, who had Down syndrome, to pay for her heart and lung transplant. Phillips went on to feature in comedy show Bo' Selecta! and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, as well as making various appearances as a TV DIY expert.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Craig & Laura (@mrandmrsdiytv)
Now aged 53, Phillips is married with two children, and he and his wife Laura have their own YouTube channel, Mr and Mrs DIY TV.
'Nasty' Nick Bateman
Nick Bateman entered the Big Brother house a stock broker. He became an infamous TV villain when he tried to influence his housemates and their nominations for eviction. A remote-controlled aeroplane was even flown over the garden, dropping leaflets to warn the other housemates about 'Nasty Nick's dastardly deeds'. But they were cleared away before any of the housemates woke up.
Bateman was booted out of the house by producers on Day 35 for breaking the rules by trying to influence votes, as well as being in possession of a pen and paper.
Bateman, now 57, went on to enjoy a pantomime career, publish a book entitled How To Be A Right B*****d and work as a TV presenter. He returned to the house in Ultimate Big Brother, the final series to air on Channel 4 in 2010.
Originally from Kent, he moved to Australia in 2013.
Anna Nolan
Anna Nolan left the Big Brother house as the show's first runner-up. As a lesbian former nun, it was obvious why producers had selected her to be one of the contestants, and her friendly, laid-back nature and sense of humour made her popular with viewers and her fellow housemates.
Irish contestant Nolan quickly became the most successful housemate of the first series in terms of an entertainment career. She has presented numerous shows in Ireland and has now even moved into TV production.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by @annanolan70
The 54-year-old presenter is the host of The Great Irish Bake Off. And Nolan is still pals with BB host Davina McCall.
Breakfast. Shoe shopping. Big love @ThisisDavina ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kihUq3gs0d
— Anna Nolan (@annanolan70) March 23, 2023
Darren Ramsey
During his time on the show, second runner-up Darren Ramsey was memorable for his naivety, as well as naming and talking to the chickens kept in the house to provide eggs for the housemates. When he left the house, Ramsey did some minor TV work - including an appearance on The Weakest Link - before stepping away from the limelight.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Darren Ramsay (@darrenramsay)
The 48-year-old from South London now lives a more private life and last year became a grandfather.
Melanie Hill
Melanie Hill was part of the first-ever Big Brother romance, engaging in a flirtatious dalliance with Tom McDermott, leaving that image of his excitement after their exchange in the hot tub burned into the minds of many BB fans. She also kissed housemate Andrew Davidson during his time in the house.
But the 51-year-old from North London soon regretted being a part of the show at all. After leaving the house, Hill became a journalist for The Guardian and presented the E4 show Chained. In 2002, she wrote an open letter titled "How Big Brother Destroyed My Life" for The Evening Standard, criticising the media's portrayal of her for flirting on the show. She warned women against auditioning for Big Brother.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Melanie Hill (@melanieshill)
Hill now has four children and runs her own business selling vintage clothes.
Tom McDermott
Tom McDermott was a Northern Irish farmer and computer engineer when he signed up for the show. After his initial romance with Hill, he fell for late arrival Claire Strutton and they quickly began a romance of their own.
The couple married and had a son, Pierce, together in 2001. They moved to Spain and ran a property website together.
Since they split in 2004, McDermott, 56, moved back to the UK and runs a property business in Cornwall.
Claire Strutton
Claire Strutton was a late arrival to the Big Brother house on Day 37 after Nasty Nick was evicted. She quickly won the heart of Tom McDermott. They married after the show ended and had a child together.
Strutton, 50, split from McDermott in 2004, and she has remarried. She and her second husband, Ian Radford, own a luxury beach resort in Marbella, La Sala Beach, as well as a chain of nightclubs in Gibraltar and Essex.
Nichola Holt
Nichola Holt had a reputation for being a party animal during her time in the house. Following the first series, she and housemate Caroline O'Shea were pictured literally falling out of nightclubs together in the tabloids. Holt released a dance track entitled It's Just The Game, named after her catchphrase in the house. It reached number 72 in the UK charts.
Holt went on to marry a personal trainer in a beach ceremony in Mexico wearing a swimsuit and a sarong. But she and her husband split after 18 months.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nichola Dawn Holt (@nichola_dawn_holt)
Holt, now 53, lives in Bolton with her daughter Ava and pet dogs.
In April this year, she shared she had suffered severe liver damage from alcohol abuse and had become sober after joining Alcoholics Anonymous.
Caroline O'Shea
Brummie sex toy salesperson Caroline O'Shea was the eldest Big Brother contestant in the first series at 37. Her big personality led to some clashes in the house, and she was the third to be evicted, after four weeks.
O'Shea, 62, has made a few TV appearances since BB1, including in The Only Way Is Essex, The Weakest Link and Ultimate Big Brother in 2010.
She has a profile on a casting website.
Sada Walkington
Sada Walkington entered the house in 2000 as a public school-educated self-help writer who loved travelling and dreamed of becoming a yoga teacher.
The now 53-year-old, from Edinburgh, was the first-ever Big Brother housemate to be evicted, leaving after just two weeks, and later said she was unhappy that she had been portrayed as a 'dippy hippy' stereotype on the show.
Walkington is now living in South America and in 2005 welcomed twin boys with her Argentine musician husband. She is a yoga teacher, so her dreams came true.
Andrew Davidson
Andrew Davidson from Hemel Hempstead quickly left his Big Brother past behind him. The 48-year-old is a brand consultant who has worked for MTV and has now founded his own consumer research company.
Big Brother series 22 is due to air on ITV1 and ITVX in the autumn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
39 Budget-Friendly Home Decor That Looks Expensive
Prismatic window film, because once in a while everything actually CAN be filled with magic and rainbows! This film will also provide you with some privacy while adding color into the room when the sun hits *just* right. A trendy knotted throw pillow you can hug close to your chest while watching the drama unfold during the latest season of Big Brother (when it's not being used as fancy decor, of course). A set of faux coffee-table books inspired by the fancy-schmancy Assouline travel series, except they're *a lot* more practical! They open with a magnetic lid to become secret storage compartments so that you can hide your stash of chocolate treats from your partner. A gold arched bookcase you'll look at with the same expression Belle had the moment she first laid her eyes on Beast's library. And, I mean, who would blame you? It's gorgeous, has various tiers to display all your favorite odds 'n' ends, and will truly take your home decor to the next level. An ornate, arched mirror with gorgeous details that'll bring some serious elegance into your bedroom and set you up to make a cheeky joke like "if it's not baroque, don't fix it" if your partner ever suggests getting a new one. A pair of satin pillowcases that'll reduce friction between your hair/skin and your pillow (which will reduce frizz and breakouts and keep you looking in tip-top shape). Not to mention, they'll look super glamorous on top of your bed. A luxurious faux-fur rug worthy of a spot in a grand old castle that has been carefully preserved since the 1800s. Or, ya know, next to your bed so your tootsies will be nice and warm when you finally convince yourself to get up and start your day. A statement checkered cutting board with a high-end feel to it without the cost. Hosting book club? Break this baby out and craft the most chic charcuterie board anyone has ever seen — so beautiful it might rival the too-hot-to-handle main character in the novel you're supposed to be discussing. A set of amber glass soap dispensers with Aesop vibes you can use to fool anyone lucky enough to use your guest bathroom — fill 'em with your favorite scent for a fraction of the cost but without skimping on style. A handmade moon phase garland you'll want to promptly hang above your bed — it'll make your cozy little room feel like one of those highly rated boutique hotels where your fave influencers seem to spend all of their time. A soft muslin throw blanket that'll look lovely folded atop your bed but you'll equally appreciate for how soft and cozy you'll feel while wrapped up in it on a rainy day. A plush blanket reviewers swear is *just like* Barefoot Dreams but without the extra dollar signs on the price tag. It'll look oh-so-luxurious draped across your couch and you'll feel as if you're lounging inside a cloud when you wrap yourself up in it. A roll of peel-and-stick wallpaper you can count on to revamp your room into an entirely new space — it'll literally feel like your walls are singing the Taylor Swift lyrics "I once was poison ivy but now I'm your daisy." A roll of geometric peel-and-stick wallpaper that'll give your walls the modern upgrade they deserve — anyone who sets foot in your home will think "WOW!" and be blown away by your chic Wes Anderson–aesthetic. You can also use it to revamp bookshelves, drawers, cabinets, and more! The Accidentally Wes Anderson coffee table book, which will tie together the entire vibe you've curated and give your visitors something colorful and fun to flip through. A mixed set of flower-shaped coupe glasses featuring eye-catching colors and a vintage feel to 'em that you might not even want to hand drinks out in them when guests are over in fear of one being dropped — but good news, at this price point, you *ABSOLUTELY* can (and should). And/or an elegant set of square wineglasses you'll want to raise a toast to because they're just that lovely. They have a shocking resemblance to the ones you've likely been eyeing from Crate & Barrel but haven't wanted to commit to. These will certainly do the trick and garner you tons of compliments the next time you host a girls' night. And vintage-inspired glass mugs to help you display your freshly crafted drinks with care — your coffee will look so beautiful in them you might never want to go out and buy one again. 😉 A cross-hatch tissue holder no one really needs but, like, maybe we actually do... just look at it! The design will bring an elevated look to the tissue box you keep on hand in your living room, where you watch all your sad movies and read your sappy romance novels. A glass mushroom lamp because scattered lighting/creating a mood is very much having a moment right now. Don't break the bank on one Urban Outfitters and West Elm when you might just change your mind about it when trends shift again! This one is lovely, unique, and comes in a bunch of colors that'll go with your space. Or! A cutesy little table lamp you'll adore whether you prefer to-may-toh or toe-mah-toe. However you phrase it, this Urban Outfitters look-a-like will let you live out a *~tomato girl summer~* all year. A set of velvet pillow covers you'll love for the way they'll feel oh-so-soft on your skin when you face plant directly into your pile of pillows at the end of a long day. They're also super easy to swap out when you inevitably get the itch to redecorate your room (again). A small lamp with the ability to rotate 180 degrees — it'll quickly become the *~light of your life~*. It has 16 color settings to choose from so you'll always be able to match your lighting to your mood and it has a remote control so you can mix it up without getting out of bed. A curtain of twinkle lights that'll make you feel like you're sleeping inside a magical fairyland. Who wouldn't want that? An oh-so-cute plush bath mat you'll enjoy sinking your freshly cleaned tootsies into each time you step out of the shower. A duvet set complete with a buttery soft cover and two shams that'll make you want to lounge in bed for days (if only). Whatever color you choose will look (and feel!) divine and will help transform your room into one out of a fancy resort. An upholstered headboard that'll double as an accent wall and remind you of the fabulous hotel rooms you keep seeing on your favorite travel Instagram account. A chic glass candle in a stunning jar that'll look gorgeous no matter where you decide to place it in your home — and it has a wooden wick to make any room of your house feel like there's a snuggly crackling fireplace in it. A twist-bottom flower vase to help extend the life of the supermarket flowers your happily bought for yourself. (Because we're all living our best Miley Cyrus life these days, right???) Thanks to its clever design, you can drain the water through the bottom of the vase and trim the stems, hassle-free. Or, abandon real flowers entirely and snag a Lego flower bouquet you'll enjoy assembling and appreciate much more than a vase filled with living florals that will, sadly, die in a few days. Place it in its fully built glory on your dresser for all to admire. A faux monstera plant that'll make it appear like you 1. have impeccable decorating skills and 2. you know how to take care of plants. Even if neither of these things are true, no one visiting your home has to know. Let them go on thinking you're a natural interior designer/gardener. Ribbed tapered candles made from soy and beeswax — because you and I both know you keep staring at your dining room table wondering *what* is missing. It's these candles!!! A nonslip Kawaii desk pad with a too-cute design on it showcasing a lil' floral shop, bakery, and cafe you'll wish you could skip off to for a stroll. Flower-shaped drawer knobs for anyone looking to add some garden-like whimsy to their bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen — let spring time flourish in your home all the time, not just in April and May! A tiered plant stand to provide your plants with a stabilized home instead of scattering them all around your apartment — it'll also make it WAY easier to water 'em! A waterproof, stain-resistant faux marble granite adhesive that'll give your old desk an entirely new life or upgrade your ratty bathroom counters into ones you'd admire on Pinterest. A table lamp to bring some light *and* style to whichever room you place it in. It comes in a bunch of fun colors that'll go nicely with any home's vibe. Farmhouse semi-blackout curtains with delicate lil' flowers all over them you can count on to make your bedroom feel like an enchanted garden escape — what could be better??? A macramé swing for the corner of your room — just imagine how soothing it would be to curl up with a blanket and nap or read in there. Delightful. And a splurge-worthy piece of abstract wall art you'd expect to see hanging in a trendy new hotel — it'll look *incredible* in your home and serve as a talking point for anyone who is lucky enough to see it. 😉
New York Times
14 hours ago
- New York Times
Veronica Roth's Favorite Dystopian Novels
I don't know about you, but for me lately it often feels like reality is slowly disintegrating. I don't know if images are real or A.I.-generated; I can't always tell if the accounts interacting with mine online are humans or bots; I watch people in power obfuscate, posture and deceive … and that's just an average Wednesday in America. So it may seem like an odd time to read dystopian fiction. But while it's understandable to crave optimism or escapism in times like these, we also need someone — anyone — to say they're also seeing what we're seeing. That's what dystopian fiction offers. Each of these visions of the future is, in its own way, an acknowledgment of reality or an exploration of human nature. Some of them showcase our resilience, humor and capacity for love in a crumbling world; others show quite the opposite. Regardless, I drink from the well of dystopian fiction when I am desperate to see myself and my fellow man more clearly. Here are a few of my favorites. Hum In a world inundated with technology, a woman gets paid to undergo an experimental procedure to make her face unrecognizable to scanners. She uses the money to buy her family a weekend pass to an offline forest haven — at which point, things take a bit of a turn. Phillips expertly captures the barrage of advertisements and digital noise that has become so normalized, as well as the loneliness and disconnection that our dependence on devices can foster. Her main character's longing for kinship, silence and meaning has never felt more relatable. Read our review. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Kate Beckinsale mourns mother Judy Loe, British actor who died at 78: ‘Compass of my life'
Actor Kate Beckinsale is mourning the loss of her 'dearest friend,' her mother British actor Judy Loe. The 'Underworld' star announced Thursday that her mother died Tuesday evening, writing in an emotional Instagram post that Loe died 'in my arms after immeasurable suffering.' Though Beckinsale in her post did not disclose a cause of death, she announced last year that her mother had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Loe was 78. The 'Pearl Harbor' actor, 51, said she felt compelled to announce her mother's death because she had to register the 'Space Island One' actor's death certificate. She shared a carousel of photos and videos of her mother from over the years, including snaps of Loe in her youth and with granddaughter Lily Mo Sheen, whom Beckinsale shares with ex Michael Sheen. 'I am paralysed,' Beckinsale wrote in her caption. 'Jude was the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend.' Loe, born March 6, 1947, in Manchester, enjoyed a versatile career that began in the 1970s and earned her dozens of credits, mostly on British TV series. She broke out on the ITV fantasy series 'Ace of Wands' in 1970s and went on to appear in numerous other programs for the network including 'The Chief,' 'Crown Court,' 'Let There Be Love' and 'Goodnight and God Bless.' Throughout her career — her most recent credit was a minor role in the TV miniseries 'Fool Me Once' in 2024 — Loe took on a variety of roles ranging from a magician's assistant in 'Ace of Wands' to a much sought-after divorcée in 'Singles' to a spacecraft commander in 'Space Island One.' Prior to taking on screen roles, Loe pursued a career on the stage, including repertory theater in northern England's Crewe, where in 1968 she met fellow actor Richard Beckinsale, whom she would marry in 1977. Though they split after two years of marriage, they welcomed daughter Kate in 1973. Richard Beckinsale died at age 31 from a heart attack. Loe remarried in 1997 to television director Roy Battersby, who died in January 2024 after a brief illness. He was 87. In her announcement, Kate Beckinsale praised her mother for her legacy, 'huge heart' and courage in the final year of her life. Beckinsale continued: 'She has been brave in so many ways, forgiving sometimes too much, believing in the ultimate good in people and the world is so dim without her that it is nearly impossible to bear.' Loe is survived by six stepchildren in addition to her daughter, according to the Guardian.
