THEN & NOW

The Big Brother legend, 54, isn’t so nasty any more

THEN YOU’D ALWAYS FIND ME SPLURGING ON… Travel and partying too much. NOW… I’m more into shoes and watches.

BACK THEN, I WAS MOST PROUD OF… Winning The Weakest Link. I gave the money to Cancer Research, but I got the glory of winning it. I never thought I’d win it. Well, I thought they’d vote me off actually – if they’d been sensible. NOW… Becoming an Australian citizen about five months ago. It’s got a better outlook, better weather, better beaches… It’s just better!

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY HEARD ME SAYING… “One more bottle…” NOW… “Can I really go to bed at 8pm?” I’ll go to bed and watch Netflix and think, “Can I go to sleep by 8.30pm.” If I make it to 9pm or 10pm, that’s a bit more acceptable.

BACK IN THE DAY, I USED TO FANCY… I think, probably, Faye from Steps. NOW… An actress who stars in Home And Away called Ada Nicodemou – she plays a character called Leah Patterson.

MY GUILTY PLEASURE USED TO BE… Just eating loads of chocolate. Chocolate, red wine, and cigarettes. NOW… Weekends away. Australia is such a beautiful country. You can go to the desert, rainforest, lush valleys, or skiing. It’s got everything you could ever want.

THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING I USED TO DO WAS… For some reason, I would collect people’s lighters. I would go home and I’d have about eight lighters in my pocket. I don’t know how I did it, I just did. NOW… I just keep losing things. I lose keys and wallets all the time. I get so busy or so distracted and just leave things at people’s houses – it’s terrible.

THEN I USED TO THINK… I could solve every problem by myself.

NOW I WOULD TELL MY YOUNGER SELF… It’s good to share and it’s good to show emotions. It’s good to be aware of it and to be able to say, “Hey, I’ve made a mistake.” I think as English men, sometimes we’re conditioned into holding in emotions or not discussing problems when we actually should air them.