Latest news with #BigBrotherUK
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Channel 5 takes 'bitter' swipe at ITV with Big Brother anniversary post
Channel 5 is showing their true feelings as they take a 'bitter' swipe at ITV while marking reality show Big Brother's 25th Birthday, as they claim the show 'left' them Channel 5 has taken a swipe at ITV as they marked Big Brother's 25th Birthday, and claimed they are 'not bitter at all' that the show 'left' the Channel to be launched on ITV. Big Brother was first broadcast on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2010, before it was moved to Channel 5 from 2011 to 2018. It was then relaunched on ITV in 2024 and has already aired two series. Channel 5 wrote on Threads: 'Happy 25th Birthday to Big Brother - not bitter at all that you left us for @itv'. A clear fan of the channel commented: 'Big Brother UK should never have departed your channel', as Channel 5 replied: 'exactlyyyy'. Fans of the show were quick to point out that Big Brother was 'axed' from the channel, rather than the show leaving. One person commented: ''Left us for ITV' Didn't you cancel it @channel5_tv', while another said: 'Big Brother didn't leave channel 5, they axed it, the morons'. A spokesperson for the broadcaster shared a statement at the time, without revealing too much on why the show was being cancelled from the channel. They said: 'The forthcoming series of Big Brother will be the last, of either celebrity or civilian versions, on Channel 5. We'd like to thank Endemol and all of the production team who have worked tirelessly to make the show a success. Most importantly, we'd like to thank fans of the show for their support over the last seven years. We look forward to giving the final series a brilliant sendoff.' The latest celebrity series of the show in April got everyone talking about one specific couple who were constantly hitting the headlines. Love Island star Chris Hughes, 32, met JoJo Siwa, 22, on Celebrity Big Brother and are now in a sweet relationship. At the time, JoJo was in a relationship with 27-year-old Australian actor Kath Ebbs, who identifies as non-binary. But speculation quickly arose about Chris and JoJo, who broke up with Kath at the CBB finale party. Initially, JoJo and Chris didn't confirm their relationship but after making a number of transatlantic trips to see each other, it became obvious that they were more than friends. The latest reports on the couple are that they are going to be starting a family after JoJo made a TikTok video earlier this month to promote her new single Bette Davis Eyes. She proceeded to play a game of Two Truths and A Lie, asking fans which statement is a lie: '1) I've never smoked a [cigarette] 2) I'm pregnant 3) This song comes out on Spotify Friday.'
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where the original Big Brother UK cast ended up, 25 years later
The original cast of Big Brother UK are living totally different lives now, 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 ❤️ — 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.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Big Brother's first ever champion Craig Phillips issues stark warning to anyone hoping to join the show - as he reflects on the 'terrifying' aftermath of winning the series
He was catapulted to fame when he won the first ever series of Big Brother UK back in 2000, scooping the £70,000 prize money and becoming the 'most famous man in Britain'. But despite his fame and fortune, Craig Phillips has issued a stark warning to anyone wishing to follow in his footsteps and sign up for the show. In a candid new interview with The Telegraph, the Liverpool native, 53, has advised people not to enter the famous abode, admitting that though he has no regrets, he 'wouldn't do it again.' He told the publication: 'Over the years, people would stop me in the street and say, "I've applied for Big Brother; what advice would you give me?". And I would look at them and go, "Don't do it!"' Amid his stint in the house, Craig's popularity soared when he confronted 'Nasty' Nick Bateman for passing covert notes to housemates to influence their votes, with the huge TV moment seeing Craig eventually crowned the show's first ever winner. However, the reality of winning Big Brother wasn't as pleasant as he would have hoped, as he recalled the 'terrifying' aftermath of his victory that left him feeling like he'd been 'kidnapped'. Craig explained: 'As soon as the live finale finished, I was driven away to a hotel with a police escort, as the press were chasing me. But no one was telling me what was going on. I felt like I was being kidnapped. 'It was terrifying. My knees were shaking. I felt vulnerable and panicky. It was not what I was expecting. All the things he [Brett Carr, the show's psychiatrist] was telling me were not sinking in. Then my cousin Steven arrived, and we sat up drinking until 8am. From there, it was straight to a press conference. Every time I moved, 50 flashbulbs went off.' Craig and his fellow contestants had no idea just how huge Big Brother was going to be when they entered the famous house 25 years ago, with the show going on to become the benchmark for reality TV in years to come. In the wake of his win, Craig was in huge demand, finding himself pestered by eager agents and making numerous appearances, with the builder not getting the chance to return to his home for a whopping 97 days. Since finding fame on the show, Craig forced a successful TV career, appearing in numerous television shows including 60 Minute Makeover and Builders, Sweat and Tears. However in recent years, that fame has declined, with Craig noting that he'd turned down many things over past seven or eight years as the money 'didn't justify' him doing that work. Instead Craig, who now lives in Majorca with wife Laura and children Nelly, six, and Lennon, four, makes his money through property, public speaking and his lucrative YouTube channel Mr & Mrs DIY. Looking back on his Big Brother experience, Craig notes that he and his fellow contestants were 'naïve', with the group having entered the house 'not really expecting much'. He added that while in his Big Brother heyday there was no social media, nowadays contestants have to be 'strong' enough to deal with the criticism they may face from the public, remarking it's a 'dangerous position' to be in. In a stark conclusion summing up the Big Brother experience, he concluded that fame and fortune 'do not go hand in hand'. Meanwhile, back in December, Craig admitted he never had any ambition to work on TV or become famous. When discussing what inspired him to originally go on the show, Craig said: 'My reasons behind it were I was collecting for Joanne Harris, who needed a heart and lung transplant, so we wanted to take her to America, we couldn't afford it.' 'But when I saw a documentary in Holland about Big Brother, and potentially it coming to the UK, and the winner would get £70,000, I thought well that will be a fantastic start to be raising a quarter of a million pounds for Joanne's appeal.' 'That was the only reason. I never ever had any ambition to ever work on TV or become famous in any way shape or form, I just kind of wanted to try and get the money really for Joanne.' Craig, who starred in the first-ever series of the reality TV show in 2000, also revealed he hasn't watched his series as of yet but has vowed to one day sit down and watch it. He said: 'I still haven't (watched my series). I've got all these tapes (VHS tapes) labelled up with all the different days on and I've vowed to myself that one day I'll sit down and watch them.' 'Because when I won Big Brother, I came out and I didn't go home for 97 days, I changed hotel every single night, and I kept thinking to myself it'll die down in a couple of months and I'll sit down and watch it.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I came out in my 30s, there's no timeframe for figuring out who you are'
Ali Bromley is the 2024 winner of Big Brother UK, making history as the British edition's first ever lesbian victor. The reality star joins Yahoo's Queer Voices to discuss her experience on the series, queer representation in reality TV, and the fight required against ignorance and fear. It felt important while I was in the Big Brother House to share parts of my identity. Part of that was that I'm a late-to-life lesbian, and it took me quite a long time to work out all the aspects of my identity. I was quite open on the show about being married to a man before. It felt important to be open about those experiences because I'm sure that there are people watching who have those experiences, and it's representation that we don't often see. And something that I spoke about on the show is that you can't be what you can't see, and that's what felt important to me. The advice that I would give to young people who are trying to work out parts of their identity, particularly concerning their sexuality, is just to take your time. Don't put any pressure to put a label on yourself and work out exactly where you fit within the queer umbrella. Look for people who look like you, talk like you, act like you, find safe spaces to spend time with other queer people. Never feel under pressure to come out to someone if that's not safe or you don't feel welcome or comfortable. There is no time frame for figuring out who you are. I'm a really good testimony to that. I only came out when I was in my 30s. And also enjoy all aspects of figuring out who you are. It's a really difficult time. We are living in a world where there is increasing pressure from the Right to crack down on the queer community, particularly our trans siblings, and nobody should feel pressured to do anything outside of their own time frames. But the beautiful thing about the LGBTQIA+ community is that we come together really well, and there is some beauty in that coming together, especially in the face of adversity. So be you, be proud and keep going. It's been months since I left Big Brother, and it's been amazing to come out and see the reception that I've received. I've heard from supporters of the show who let me know that seeing somebody who was openly lesbian in the Big Brother house who's spoken about their experiences as a neurodivergent queer person was important for them to feel represented, to be seen on television. And that's felt really incredible because it's something that I didn't have when I was younger growing up. There was no one really like me on television. I also received lots of messages from people from all different age groups saying that because of seeing me on the show they were able to, for example, come out to their parents, their families. They were able to put me on the television and say 'this is who I am, this is somebody who has the same experiences as me'. But I also receive messages from people who are much older, who at the age of 50, for example, were able to come out and start living more authentically as themselves. Big Brother is a show that champions people from the queer community. Obviously, during 2023's Big Brother we had Jordan and Henry, and we were able to watch their romance develop. In my season there was myself, Dean, Dave and Martha who were from the queer community, and more recently in Celebrity Big Brother we've had JoJo Siwa and Danny Beard. This is queer representation that's really important. People from all demographics all within the queer umbrella, reality TV can be a safe space for queer people to be seen, and Big Brother is one of those places. But across the board, usually, on reality TV we're not very visible. It's really important that people from the queer community are seen on reality TV because we're not seen often in other parts of the mainstream media. Reality TV shows allow us to show who we are, they allow us to have conversations about who we are, also they create situations where we're meeting people who don't often meet people like us and that fosters conversation that can lead to learning and lead to understanding. Certainly it was something that I experienced with people writing to me, to the show, saying that it was helpful for them to see a queer person who was normal so they could show that we're just people like everybody else, living our lives, and we have the same experiences as other people. When I was growing up, there wasn't much on television that showed queer people, particularly lesbians. There was The L Word, I think that was the only representation of lesbians when I was a little bit younger, trying to work out who I was and work out my identity. I think, actually, it was the advance in the development of social media that helped me to understand myself and my identity. Because all of a sudden you're being exposed to a whole world of people that you wouldn't necessarily meet in your everyday life. And that's important because it can help you to understand that there are possibilities outside of the heteronormative relationships that are shown ordinarily on mainstream television. When I was growing up, there was a real absence of queer people in the media for me to look up to for role models, but in the present day I'm really inspired by the drag community. So we have our favourites. Danny Beard, Tia Kofi, these people really inspire me because they live so authentically as themselves, and they're able to celebrate parts of themselves that are really beautiful, really artistic, super creative. I think we as queer people are getting more room to share our stories, but again I think it isn't so clear. People are allowed a platform and we are getting spaces to be who we are on television, and Big Brother has always been quite queer as we've discussed. We've got queer dating shows and even on mainstream dating shows you're getting the odd queer couple slip through like on Married at First Sight. But it is in silo, it's not in mainstream TV. There's not that many people, for example, on morning breakfast shows or news shows that are openly queer. So it seems to be that we find our spaces and we sit there, which is fab, and it gives people the opportunity to see us. But I certainly think there is room for improvement, particularly given the current climate in terms of the Supreme Court ruling regarding the definition of a 'woman'. The rulings seem to be backed by ignorance or fear, or even anger and hatred, I think. All we can do is keep donating to charities that are pushing for legal challenges, for example, to the Supreme Court ruling, showing up to protests, sharing information on social media, and then on a smaller level having conversations with our friends and family about the situation. As it stands, there's a very small minority of people that are being scapegoated for a much larger issue, which is male violence towards women, which trans people are not responsible for. So I think there's lots of things that can be done on a wider level, but also on a sort of micro level within families, friends, the conversations that you have — even writing to your local MP and donating to charity.
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BB UK star 'Nasty Nick' makes 'strange' career move after quitting fame
Glyn Wise shot to fame as a contestant on the seventh series of Big Brother UK in 2006 and had a hit song about cooking an egg - but now he's become an ordained priest Rocketing to fame with a catchy egg-cooking song on Big Brother at 18, Glyn Wise has now officially started his new mission to "spread the good word of God" as a fully ordained priest. Back in 2006, a keen young chap kitted out as a lifeguard was prepping to enter the Big Brother house. As an avid enthusiast of the programme, he'd scrutinised every season with the goal to charm the socks off the producers during auditions by feigning a slightly mean streak. His strategy paid off, securing him a place on one of the most popular reality series ever. Yet this lad was far from the notorious 'Nasty' Nick Bateman; rather, he was Glyn Wise, the wholesome lad from Wales, juggling A-level studies. Overwhelmed with excitement just before walking into the house live on telly, he had an accident right there in his quirky lifeguard costume. Now 36, Glyn reminisced about the mishap with The Sun, confessing: "I went to the toilet and managed to sneak a look through the window and could see somebody going into the house. So then I got really excited, forgot what I was doing and I peed my pants." Despite the wet mishap, he got himself dry with a hand dryer and proceeded to win over audiences with his sincere and unworldly charm. He forged strong bonds with fellow housemates like Pete Bennett (still a mate and the ultimate winner), the late Nikki Grahame, and Welsh compatriot Imogen Thomas. Upon leaving the house, he was taken aback by the extent of his fame. His song about his first time cooking an egg became a popular ringtone, and he found himself performing it at nightclub appearances, where he was earning around £2,500 per gig. However, as his star began to fade, his anxiety levels rose. He chose to return to education, attending university and eventually becoming a teacher. Yet Glyn felt dissatisfied with "real life" compared to the celebrity lifestyle he had briefly experienced, so he decided to travel. He ended up using his qualifications to teach in Shanghai, China, where his passion for faith was rekindled. Glyn has been a practising Christian since attending Sunday school as a child. In a 2022 interview with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary on This Morning, he explained how working as a teacher in China significantly influenced his faith. He said: "Christianity is growing on a massive scale in South East Asia, so I went to church there, and even other teachers were like, 'do you want to come to Bible study class'. "I grew in faith as I went along with that. The pastor or priest was talking and I felt like everything he was saying was directly to me, and what was amazing was they were bringing the Bible into 2022, making relevance to every walk of life and that's what I'd like to bring forward." Glyn had been diligently studying to become a priest at a university in Wrexham, delving into theology and the intricacies of the Bible. He explained: "I'm learning theology, going into depth about the Bible and learning how to cope with people, because you're not only the vicar, you're someone to listen, you're a psychiatrist, you have to help sort people's lives out and spread the good word. So there's a concoction of stuff that you need to learn before you become a vicar." Once he completed his studies, he became a curate and has been spending time ever since waiting to be ordained as a priest by the bishop. Sharing his excitement with fans on social media, he posted: "Done it! I've been accepted for Ordained Ministry with the Church in Wales." In a recent post, Glyn also revealed he'd met King Charles III during a placement at a church in Wrexham. But now, after some time has passed, the BB UK star has now officially been ordained. Sharing a TikTok on July 7, captioned 'First week as Rev Glyn!', he can be heard saying: "As you see behind me there's all the graves, from the dust we came from the dust we will depart. So how are we supposed to enjoy life? Well Jesus told us two things; to love God and to love one another, to treat everyone the way that you want to be treated. So that's all we need to do, really. Go out and enjoy life otherwise." Bemused fans flooded his replies, with one saying: "Glyn from Big Brother???" while another added "I think I've missed a chapter." A proud follower proclaimed: "Darling, I am so unbelievably proud of you. I love you so very dearly." Although he now sports a beard and a shaved head, and carries himself with more maturity, Glyn is still recognised for his past, particularly his time on Big Brother. He incorporates elements of his previous experiences into his sermons, admitting: "I've got a beard now, I've shaved my head, I'm a man not a boy, but yeah, there's conversations about Big Brother that still come up." He shared interactions with churchgoers who remember him fondly, saying: "People come to church and are like, 'I really loved you when you cooked that egg'. And I'm like, 'Can we talk about Jesus Christ now, the Saviour?"
