OH BROTHER!
How many past Celebrity Big Brothers can you name? MARION McMULLEN looks back on the reality TV show winners
CELEBRITY Big Brother began as a fundraiser for Comic Relief and saw eventual winner Jack Dee spending most of his eight days in the house plotting ways to escape.
The comedian mournfully sat with his bags ready and packed as each eviction was announced during the 2001 contest only to watch fellow housemates boxer Chris Eubank, presenter Vanessa Feltz, Boyzone’s Keith Duffy, Anthea Turner and Brookside’s Claire Sweeney leave one by one ahead of him.
The Channel 4 special was such a success that it was back the following year with the celebrity housemates now spending 10 days in the Big Brother house. Take That’s Mark Owen was the popular winner receiving 77% of the vote and promptly broke down in tears.
Celebrity Big Brother did not return again until 2005 and this time housemates signed up for an 18-day stint. Happy Monday dancer Bez took part to pay off a tax bill and ended up winning the entire series.
It was fake celebrity Chantelle Houghton who won in 2006 after convincing fellow housemates like politician George Galloway and actress Rula Lenska that she was the lead singer in a girl band called Kandy Floss. She later wed fellow housemate Samuel Preston of The Ordinary Boys, but they announced their marriage was over 10 months later.
Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty retained her dignity as she faced racism and bullying in arguably the most controversial series. Viewers were outraged at her treatment and made her the 2007 winner.
Ulrika Jonsson stunned the bookies when she won in 2008 beating TV presenter Terry Christian in the final and she declared “Oh my God, that’s just bonkers” on hearing the result.
Alex Reid, the then boyfriend of Katie Price was Channel 4’s final winner in 2010 before Celebrity Big Brother found a new home on Channel 5.
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding reality TV star Paddy Doherty was their first winner with former Big Brother winner Brian Dowling taking over the presenting duties from Davina McCall.
Celebrity Big Brother began broadcasting twice a year from 2012 with actress and former Loose Women regular Denise Welch beating X Factor singer Frankie Cocozza to take the first crown of the year.
Comedian Julian Clary was the winner later in 2012 after spending 23 days in the Celebrity Big Brother House. He burst into tears as Brian Dowling told him he was the “people’s champion”.
X Factor singer Rylan Clark was another one who sobbed after winning at the start of 2013. He was a big fan of the reality TV contest before he took part and now happily hosts Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side. He has said he will be “forever grateful” to the show for boosting his career.
Emma Willis also took over as the regular presenter and Geordie Shore’s Charlotte Crosby was the victor later in 2013 while comedian Jim Davidson was the winner of the 13th series in 2014. He was enthusiastically greeted by fellow housemate and N-Dubz rapper Dappy on his exit.
Lethal Weapon and Point Break actor Gary Busey became the first American winner later that year and one of the most entertaining housemates as he revealed how Patrick Swayze’s spirit had passed through him when he was gazing at the ocean one time.
The winners of the two 2014 shows were Katie Price and James Hill from The Apprentice while 2015 saw Geordie Shore’s Scotty T and reality TV’s Stephen Bear both proving popular with the public.
Last year it was the turn of both Coleen Nolan and former Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding to prove Celebrity Big Brother winners. Sarah found romance in the house in the shape of US reality TV star Chad Johnson, but the long distance relationship later broke up.
Australian drag queen Courtney Act, aka Shane Jenek currently holds the Celebrity Big Brother crown after winning the contest in January ahead of former politician Anne Widdecombe, Wayne Sleep, Shane Lynch and former Ex On The Beach reality star Jess Impiazzi.
Courtney later said it was “slightly ironic” they had won during Celebrity Big Brother’s Year Of The Woman theme.
There have been tantrums, rows, silly games and even romance over the years, but not everyone is a fan of the reality TV contest.
Sylvester Stallone’s mother Jackie entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2005 and promptly asked: “People in England actually watch this?”