Brian Dowling feels some people are trying to “erase” his history with Big Brother.
The 45-year-old presenter shot to fame after winning the second series of the Channel 4 reality show in 2001.
He later replaced Davina McCall as presenter when the show moved to Channel 5 before handing over the baton to Emma Willis, but by the time the ITV1 revival began on Sunday night he claimed his connection to presenting the show had been completely forgotten .
He wrote on Instagram: “Tonight is the night and some may even say the long-awaited return of Big Brother.” I’ve had so much here over the years about winning Big Brother in 2001 and also winning Ultimate Big Brother posted in 2010. Both opportunities have 100% changed my life.
“I have the ABSOLUTE BEST MEMORIES I’ve ever had as a housemate.” I went on to host the show for six seasons, becoming the first man to host Big Brother!
Forgotten ones? Brian Dowling, 45, feels some people are trying to ‘erase’ his history with Big Brother (Brian pictured hosting Big Brother in 2011)
Fame game: The presenter shot to fame when he won the second series of the Channel 4 reality show in 2001 (pictured for the show’s second series in 2001).
“It’s so strange looking back at myself without a beard. I think a little over 8 million people saw the first live show.” We had some INCREDIBLE roommates.
“From crowning Luke Anderson as the winner to icons like Denise Welch, Julian Clary, Heidi and Spencer and of course Rylan.
“I was only 33 years old when I was offered to host the main show. I said yes, of course, even though it was the spin-off show I wanted and not the main show. But I would have been stupid to refuse it.
“Honestly, I always feel like some people like to change history and try to erase the fact that I hosted the show straight after Davina and then it went to Emma.”
The Real Housewives of Cheshire host added that new hosts AJ Odudo and Will Best were interviewed about the reboot just last week and noted that his name didn’t come up at all during the segment.
He added: “More recently, for example on This Morning on Friday.” New Big Brother presenters AJ and Will were interviewed and asked if they had obviously spoken to “Emma and Davina” as ex-hosts, and then were put their pictures on the screen.
“Once again, there was not even a mention that I was a presenter, nor was anyone on the production team who at least pointed out that I was also a former presenter.
“It would have been so nice to have been included and it would have been INCREDIBLE to get even a thumbs up from my colleagues.” “I find it so strange that this keeps happening.”
Champ: Brian won Ultimate Big Brother in 2010, with the late Nikki Grahame (left) coming second while Chantelle Houghton (right) came third
Now married to Arthur Gourounlian, Brian added that he goes into “much more detail” about his time on the show and the “impact” it had on him in a new book, but concludes by telling the new presenters wishes “good luck” for the series.
He added: “On October 26th this month, Arthur and I have our book coming out and I go into much more detail about this period of my life as a presenter of Big Brother and the fallout and impact it had on my life.”
“I think AJ is a FABULOUS choice to host.” I don’t know Will, but he seems like a lot of fun. I wish them both good luck as their new hosts.”
Big Brother returned to British television with a barman, a make-up artist, a butcher and a youth worker among the contestants who entered the famous house.
Happy family: Brian is now married to Arthur Gourounlian (right) and the couple have one child together
The influential social experiment, in which housemates live together in a bespoke home without access to the outside world for weeks in a bid to win £100,000, has opened its doors for the first time in five years.
The reality series returned to ITV on Sunday after being axed by Channel 5 due to a ratings slump in 2018. New hosts AJ and Will introduced a group of 16 contestants in front of a live studio audience in the brand new house.
Big Brother started on Channel 4 in 2000 before Channel 5 took over in 2011 and aired in the UK for a total of 18 years.
Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
BIG BROTHER 2023: LEARN THE PARTICIPANTS!
JENKIN
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: Barman
FROM: Bridgend
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU? “Probably loud and chaotic and irritating.”
TOM
AGE: 21
OCCUPATION: Butcher
FROM: Somerset
What are you most likely to be nominated for? “I think I could potentially offend some people. “My mouth moves faster than my brain.”
TRISH
AGE: 33
OCCUPATION: Mom
FROM: Luton
What would you do with the prize money if you won? “I think my first priority is to sort out my living situation. The housing crisis is just ridiculous and my housing situation was unstable. It gives me a lot of guilt as a mother because I have a small child. It’s my biggest incentive and my biggest motivation to win.”
JORDAN
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Lawyer
FROM: Scunthorpe
What are you most likely to be nominated for? “I’m argumentative and act like I don’t want to be there, even when I do in my heart.” Maybe they nominate me because I’m uninterested or because I don’t give everyone equal attention. You may feel left out, but there’s nothing I can do about it.’
DYLAN
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: DJ
FROM: Coventry
TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: “I appeared on a TV show about amputees called The Last Leg – two years before I lost my leg!”
NOKY
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Bank clerk
FROM: Derby
Why did you apply to be a Big Brother Housemate? “I love challenges. I’ve had so many great moments in my life, like winning Miss Universe as Miss Great Britain. I like doing something different and think this is the next challenge I want to tackle. I want to show people what beauty girls are really like and refute many stereotypes around them. I also show what it’s like to be a woman who has worked in male-dominated fields. “I want to show that women are capable of doing anything they want.”
PAUL
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: Security officer
FROM: Liverpool
What are you most likely to be nominated for? “Being the tallest, eating all the food, and being the loudest roommate.”
OLIVIA
AGE: 23
PROFESSION: Dancer
FROM: Glasgow
What are you most likely to be nominated for? “I think if people are that hungry, I’ll finish people off and finish them off. I think they will nominate me for my comprehensiveness, my brutal honesty and my excessive expression of opinions.’
FARIDA
AGE: 50
PROFESSION: Make-up artist
FROM: Wolverhampton
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself: “People are always surprised when I say I got married at 43. Or that I am a former holiday representative on Gran Canaria and Menorca.”
HALLIE
AGE: 18
PROFESSION: Youth worker
From London
What are you most likely to be nominated for? “Be lazy and have an opinion.” I’m quite opinionated, I like to express my opinion and not many people like that. I’m very real.’
YINRUN
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: Customer service representative
FROM: Harrogate
What part of the experience are you most looking forward to? “What I enjoy most is being surrounded by so many people from different walks of life. I don’t think I’ll ever live in a house with so many different people again. “I’m from China and I think it will help me delve deeper into British culture.”
CHANELLE
AGE: 29
PROFESSION: Dental therapist
FROM: Llanelli
What are you most likely to be nominated for? “Probably just because I’m annoying.” There’s this saying in Wales: “I’ll do it straight away.” For example, if I were preparing food and left a dish next to it, I would have good intentions to wash it up, but I would say, “I’ll do that in a minute,” and it might be three hours later before I do it. So probably for stupid things like that.’
ZAK
AGE: 28
PROFESSION: Model
FROM: Manchester
What would you do with the prize money if you won? “Pay off my debts and help my family.” I also saved up to build a park in my home village in Thailand because there are no parks or playgrounds where I grew up.”
MATTY
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Doctor
FROM: Isle of Man
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? “They would say I’m a happy person or someone who really wants to live life to the fullest and do everything it has to offer. Someone who is friendly and fun and doesn’t take life too seriously.”
HENRY
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Food writer
FROM: Cotswolds
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? “I think you would say that I am particularly outgoing and very talkative. I mean, I’ll be honest, my parents would definitely say I’m a bit of a snob, but I take that as a compliment. I think that means you have high standards and good taste. They would say I’m quite a strange child.’
Kerry
AGE: 40
OCCUPATION: NHS manager
FROM: Essex
Why did you apply to be a housemate on Big Brother? “I love the program. For me it is the ultimate reality TV show of all time. I suffer from multiple sclerosis and that’s why I’ve never applied because I always saw these huge stairs crashing into the house. It just felt a bit out of reach because I was in a wheelchair for the first three years of my illness. When I saw it come back and was looking for real people from all walks of life, I thought: This is my year.”