Rylan Clark-neal
Rylan Clark-neal on his dream for the reality show to return to our screens
As a self-confessed Big Brother superfan, Rylan Clark-neal was thrilled to be asked to present Big Brother: Best Shows Ever. “I was over the moon to be honest,” he says. “When they talked me through it, I thought that this would probably be a good thing because, hopefully, people will watch it and realise how amazing Big Brother is after not seeing it on screen for a couple of years.”
Rylan, who won Celebrity Big Brother series 11 and went on to host Bit On The Side, is hoping that these episodes could bring the show back for good – and says he’s not going to stop until it does.
Here, Rylan, 31, opens up about his favourite ever housemates…
Hi Rylan! Are you excited about this show?
It’s all I’ve been harping on about for the last two years, saying, “I can’t believe that we’re not doing anything to celebrate 20 years!” I mean, it’s amazing.
Are you looking forward to working with Davina?
Our Big Brother paths have never crossed, so it’s going to be lovely to work with Davina. I’ve always looked up to her as a host.
What do you hope fans will take away?
I hope viewers take away some classic Big Brother episodes that they might not fully remember and want to see it all again. It’s the greatest reality show in the world, in my opinion. The show is so pure and when it’s done right, it’s literally flawless. If I had the money, I’d bring Big Brother back in my own house!
Why do you think people loved Big Brother so much?
It was the last real reality show on TV. It wasn’t constructed in any way. All the content would come from the people in the house and they’d create the show. To have been a housemate and to work on the show, I feel like I understand it most, as I’ve been able to get to know it inside out.
Who’s your favourite housemate of all time?
It changes with my mood, but I think you’ve got to look at the likes of Nadia [Almada], Aisleyne [Horgan-wallace] and Jade [Goody]. They were such amazing housemates without even realising how amazing they were.
What’s next for you?
Next for me is to make sure that Big Brother comes back bigger and better than ever – I’ll be flying that flag as high as possible to make it a reality.
Watch Big Brother: Best Shows Ever at 9pm Sun-thurs on E4