2 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
