But where are they now?
SundayPost
By Kirsten Gray
SINCE it first hit our screens five years ago, 78 contestants have passed through the doors of the Big Brother House.
Many hope the programme will get them started in the world of showbiz. But what really awaits them when reality TV ends and they’re again faced with the reality of the big wide world?
We took a look at what has become of some past contestants. It quickly became clear that while some continue to bask in the experience, just as many have cut themselves off completely from their time inside.
And there were some who just wouldn’t talk at all unless they were getting paid!
BB 1 — 2000
The first winner, Liverpudlian Craig Phillips (33), who already ran a successful building company, has gone on to create his own mini-empire. Becoming the BBC’s resident handyman on Housecall, Trading Up and Big Strong Boys, he set up his own TV production company.
With his ten-part Conversion screening on satellite TV, he’s also producing a makeover show for the British Forces Broadcasting Service.
Craig still dabbles in property development and next month will open the biggest private construction training college in the north-west of England.
“Winning Big Brother catapulted me to a greater profile and opened the doors to TV. That allowed me to open various other companies,” he tells us. His only complaint is his busy lifestyle means he needs a rest. “Get me on that Celebrity Love Island — that’d be a nice holiday,” he jokes.
Perhaps surprisingly, the housemate Craig still sees most is Nick Bateman. Nasty Nick presented a show, Trust Me, and wrote a book, How To Be A B*****d. He also completed a camera and directing course at the BBC.
“He was probably busier than all of us in the first six months but now he’s struggling a bit for work,” says Craig. “With me having a trade, at least I had something to base my career on.”
Mel B lookalike Melanie Hill (31) has just completed a law degree.
A former nun from Ireland, BB runner-up Anna Nolan (34) became a TV agony aunt with Ask Anna, presented the BBC3 travel series Anna In Wonderland, The Afternoon Show and Closure, alongside Big Brother’s Davina McCall.
Contestants Claire Strutton (30) and Omagh farmer Tom McDermott (36) had a son and moved to Spain, but later split.
BB 2 — 2001
Following his win, camp Irish flight attendant Brian Dowling (26) presented ITV’s Saturday morning kids show SM:tv Live for two years. His makeover programme Brian’s Boyfriends became a cult hit and he’s done various cable and satellite programmes including I’m Famous And Frightened, Celebrity Extra and The Good Soap Guide.
Brian presents a showbiz spot on Radio One and writes for Now magazine. His acting debut was in the spin-off series Footballers Wives: Extra Time and he was the voice on Channel 4’s The Salon.
Last month Brian presented the massive Party in the Park concert in Leeds and does the Dublin Party in the Park next week.
He’s tipped to become godfather when fellow housemate, loudmouth Narinder Kaur (32), has her first baby in November. The former medical rep from Leicester has a part in BBC Asian Network radio soap Silver Street.
The odds were stacked against it, but BB’s first big romance HAS lasted. Welsh hairdresser Helen Adams (26) and 29-year-old CAD designer Paul Clarke live together in London and lead “a normal life”.
Josh Rafter (40) is director of Britain’s biggest gay property management agency, Outlet.
BB 3 — 2002
Once an IT helpdesk administrator, blonde winner Kate Lawler (25) went on to present Channel 4’s short-lived breakfast show RI:SE and earlier this year grappled with other contestants on Celebrity Wrestling. Four years after her win, Kate now declines to talk about life after BB.
Her agent said, “She’s drawing the line under that episode of her life because, really, you can’t live in the shadow of Big Brother forever.”
In August 2003 housemates Sophie (27) and Lee (24) became the first Big Brother couple to wed. Now living in Leicester, where Sophie works in social services while Lee is a health and fitness manager, they’re expecting their first child in seven weeks.
“Our life’s all about getting ready for the baby right now,” says Sophie. “Lee’s looking forward to becoming a dad, he’s always wanted children. You find a lot of people trying to cling on to the fame but, despite the fact Big Brother’s a great experience, there comes a point where you really just have to get on with normal life.”
The only housemate Sophie keeps in touch with is Alison Hammond (30), from Birmingham, who has recently given birth to her first child. They meet once a month and “go over baby stuff”.
A showbiz reporter on ITV’s This Morning, Alison has interviewed everyone from George Clooney to Britney Spears. But she was another whose agent said wouldn’t talk about BB.
Surprisingly, considering how she became a figure of national ridicule, Jade Goody (23) has probably made the most since coming out of BB, with the possible exception of Craig. Best remembered for her drunken antics and classic clangers, Jade has graced more celebrity magazine pages than any other housemate.
She released a fitness video and TV appearances include Celebrity Wife Swap, Back To Reality and Celebrity Driving School.
An on-off relationship with former footballer Jeff Brazier, with whom she has two children, a failed relationship with another ex-footballer Ryan Amoo, not to mention a boob job, have kept Jade in the headlines.
The Fifer who famously scaled the house wall to escape, Sandy Cumming (47) has returned to his job as a personal shopper at London store Selfridges.
BB 4 — 2003
True to his word, winner Cameron Stout returned to live in his native Orkney. An occasional columnist in The Sunday Post, Cameron presented the BBC TV series Teen Commandments and stands in for Radio Scotland’s Robbie Shepherd. In December he’ll appear in his third panto season in Aberdeen.
He had a part in low-budget film, Night Rider, due out later this year, is a regular on the after-dinner speaking circuit and makes many public appearances.
“I still feel as though I’m on holiday,” says Cameron. “It’s very hard work — I can be in Manchester one day, London the next, Aberdeen the next.
“I thought my career would have settled into one avenue by now, but the variety’s still there. I’d love more regular radio work and I’m doing some BBC broadcast training next week.”
According to Cameron, Jon Tickle (31) is working on his third series of Sky One’s science programme Brainiac, Irishman Ray Shah (27) presents on a Dublin radio station and Gos (33) is still cooking but now writes about food and makes occasional TV and radio appearances.
Steph Coldicott (29) runs an art therapy business while Tania Do-Nascimento (24) has recently become a mum.
“The last time I met Federico he was talking about investing in a restaurant or club in Glasgow,” Cameron reveals.
“And Lisa has spent about £10,000 on plastic surgery due to the hard time she received in the press. She’s very happy with the results.”
Annuszka Nowak (Nush), turned down various television offers to take up a psychology degree course at Norwich University which the 25-year-old had won before entering the house. She still does modelling contracts.
Liverpudlian Sissy, Joanne Rooney (28), has her own fashion label Sissy’s Surgery and a long distance relationship with a bloke living in Germany.
BB 5 — 2004
Since winning, Portuguese transexual Nadia Almada (28) has done a stint in panto, written a fashion column in Closer magazine and released a single — which flopped!
Living in London, she’s just returned from a surprise appearance in the BB Australia house. Nadia is one of 10 celebs appearing in Channel Five’s Trust Me I’m A Holiday Rep, catering to the needs of holidaymakers for 10 days.
“We filmed in Cyprus before I left for Australia. It’s coming out in September so I’m busy promoting that at the moment. What does the future hold for me? Who knows. I’m still waiting for my phone call from the James Bond producer about my part as a Bond Girl!
“My life has changed dramatically. BB really has opened doors for me.”
Hyper Marco Sabba (22) has just returned from a five-week holiday in Australia which he booked to escape the hype surrounding this year’s Big Brother. Next month he returns to studying law at London’s Kingston University.
Cute Scot Shell Jubin (23) was given the news she’d been awarded a first-class honours degree in art history by Glasgow University while in the house. After a string of modelling contracts, she’s now working at the world famous Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Scottish bodybuilder Jason Cowan (31) will be back on the box in October, appearing in Channel Five’s reality show Commando VIP. Somalia-born law graduate Ahmed Aghil (45) has become a successful businessman.
So what does the future hold for Anthony, Makosi and the rest of this year’s housemates? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Thanks for that.