Anna Nolan - BB1The former trainee nun, 42, represented Ireland at basketball before TV fame beckoned. She lives in Dublin with her film and TV director partner Dearbhla. Anna says:
"Back at the turn of the millennium, I was working as the office manager for a skateboarding company. I was a little bit bored with life, so it was the perfect time to apply for Big Brother.
"When I heard about the show, I had been living in London for a couple of years. I'd seen a documentary on the Dutch Big Brother, and at the end of the programme they asked for applicants for a UK version, which is what I did.
"The programme was quite innocent back then, and there was a lot of heart in it. It's easy to forget that the whole reality-TV genre didn't exist then - so people weren't lined up with agents, game plans and strategies for when they came out of the house.
"For the most part my time in the house was a positive experience. I didn't really know what to expect, with it being the first series, and there were moments when it got a bit boring and tedious, but it was good fun.
"I knew to take it all with a pinch of salt. I didn't go in there with any major goals or to launch a career - I just went in to enjoy the experience.
"The simplest things ended up being the highlights - we were really hungry a lot of the time so when they gave you some chocolate or a glass of wine on a Friday evening, you would think you'd won the lottery!
"It was also good fun when "Nasty" Nick Bateman was exposed and there was a big confrontation, which resulted in him being booted out of the house.
"For the last four years I've been on the other side of the camera, working as a television producer in Ireland.
"I've made several series in that time, including an architecture show called Room to Improve, and I produced a health show called Operation Transformation for three years, which I absolutely loved.
"My current job, as a development executive at a company called Coco Television, is incredibly exciting. We devise programme formats that are sold across the uK and Europe. I also write a weekly column in a national newspaper.
"I chatted to some of the other housemates quite recently when we did a show called The Reunion for BBC Radio 4, and it was good to catch up with them. I've also stayed in touch with Davina McCall, which I am thrilled about. She is a great support.
"I had no intention of going back in front of the camera but I'm about to present The Great Irish Bake Off, which we are filming at the moment. When I got the call about the show, I said yes immediately and it's the best fun. I get to chat to the bakers and eat cake all day - how lucky am I?"
Express
