BB FANS

Brian Dowling and Emma Willis confirmed as presenters for BB and Celebrity Big Brother!

Brian Dowling and Emma Willis have been confirmed as the new hosts of Big Brother 2011.

The Daily Star confirmed the news, after Brian’s new role was leaked on Twitter earlier today by former BB housemate Nasty Nick Bateman.

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Daily Star

OUTRAGEOUS Brian Dowling was yesterday unveiled as the new Big Brother host and cheekily said: “I will tell them: ‘BB house. This is Brian. Please Swear."

Anna Nolan: Brilliant Brian's got the talent to take Big Brother by storm

When I was a guest on Katherine Lynch's Wagon's Den this year, I was surprised by one thing. Not the total annihilation by the host Sheila Sheikh (right). No, that was expected and enjoyed. It was actually witnessing just how good Brian Dowling is as a presenter.

And his recent move to presenting this year's Celebrity Big Brother, on its new channel, Five, is proof that the Irishman's career is at last taking off.

He is Sheila Sheikh's side-kick on RTE 2's Wagon's Den, and to see him in action in the studio is impressive. He is spontaneous, professional and naturally funny. As wing-man, he holds himself back and lets her shine. But I could see that he is a huge talent waiting to burst on to the screens.

It's been a long time coming. Yes, he has done tons of telly -- from SMTV Live all those years ago, where he was a breath of fresh air alongside Cat Deeley and Tess Daly, to Brian's Boyfriends (a makeover show for men). But his non-stop appearances on reality shows made me wonder if he was ever going to move away from being a professional reality junkie. This summer, he is taking on one of the biggest television shows ever in the UK.

Davina McCall has had 11 years to perfect her performance on Big Brother. Whether it's whipping the crowd up into a frenzy, or having an intimate chat with a housemate she loves, Davina has been Big Sister for all the Channel Four shows, and she is some woman to replace.

So how on earth is he going to outdo Davina? As long as he doesn't try to mimic her in any way, he should be absolutely fine. It's Brian time, and he has the talent, the experience and the charm to make this show his own and bring his own career to the heights it deserves.

Herald.ie

Brian's Big Brother nerves

He may be a Big Brother regular, but Brian Dowling has apparently got the collywobbles about his new job as the show's host.

With three weeks to go until the new-look series launches on Channel 5, the two-times Big Brother winner has told Star magazine he doesn't want to be compared to Davina McCall: "On Ultimate Big Brother, the final shot was of me and Davina, so it was like she was passing me the baton. I'm so nervous. I don't want to let people down."

As for the show itself, Dowling also told the mag he doesn't want to witness any unnecessary nudity inside the house. "I don't want to see any random willies just for the sake of seeing willies, you know," he joked. Er, we think he might have to avert his eyes - this is Big Brother we're talking about, and running around with no kit on is generally par for the course.

Meanwhile, talking about his ideal housemates for the celebrity version of the show, the former airline steward revealed he'd love to see Britney Spears in the famous house. He reckons the singer would make "amazing" viewing. However, it looks like he might have to settle for housemates of a slightly lower calibre.

The Irishman is also hoping fellow countrymen Jedward will make the final cut. He told the magazine: "Jedward would be funny to watch. I've interviewed them and they're so great and so positive.

"I'd really like to see them up against the likes of Charlie Sheen." Wouldn't we all?

The brand new Big Brother launches on Channel 5 on 17 August with rumoured housemates to include Jedward, Charlie Sheen, Mohamed Al Fayed, Steve Strange, Imogen Thomas and call-girl Helen Wood - among others.


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