Where are Big Brother’s winners now? From Craig Phillips to Cameron Cole-Tilly Pearce and Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

What has happened to the winners of Big Brother? (Picture: Rex)

Big Brother is officially back with a second series after ITV revived the beloved reality competition last year.

A climate activist from London has joined a Nigel Farage-loving pork salesman who used to be King Charles’ butler, alongside 14 other housemates.

They’re hoping to follow in the footsteps of some household names who came before them, and as we hit nearly 25 years since the first ever episode, now’s as good a time as any to check in on the winners.

Did they embrace fame or decide to fully return to reality? Are they married with kids, or living the single life to the fullest? Where have they been seen since?

Luckily, we’ve got you covered on all of it – and there’s actually a fair mix from our former TV show addiction.

Here’s what the winners of the series have been up to since they bagged their win…

Craig Phillips (2000)

Craig Phillips was the first ever winner of Big Brother (Picture: REUTERS)

After becoming the winner for the first Big Brother, Craig donated his entire £70,000 winnings to his beloved pal Joanne, who has Down’s syndrome and needed to travel abroad for a lifesaving heart and lung transplant.

The builder went on to make frequent appearances on Bo! Selecta in 2002, and come in as a resident DIY expert on morning shows.

Craig and wife Laura married in 2018, and welcomed a baby girl in March 2019, and a baby boy the following year.

Brian Dowling (2001)

Brian is the only person to have won Big Brother twice (Picture: Getty)

Brian remains the only contestant to date to win the show twice – taking the crown in Big Brother in 2001, before returning and becoming champion of Ultimate Big Brother in 2010.

Since his time on the show he’s carved himself an impressive career as a TV presenter, voiceover and radio star.

In 2012 he returned to where it all began and presented Big Brother himself for a season, going full circle of his time on the show.

Most recently, he can be heard providing a commentary on the drama of Real Housewives of Cheshire.

Brian is also a dad of two, sharing two daughters with his husband, dancer Arthur Gourounlian.

Kate Lawler (2002)

Kate Lawler was the first female winner of the show (Picture: Rex)

After becoming the first female winner of the series, Kate Lawler became one of the biggest pin-up models of the year.

In 2006, she appeared on Celebrity Love Island alongside Shane Lynch, Bianca Gascoigne and Calum Best, being eliminated on the final day.

Nowadays, much like Brian, Kate has become an established broadcaster, and is currently on Virgin Radio hosting the daily Drivetime Show.

In mid-2019, Kate launched a podcast called Maybe Baby, questioning whether or not she wants to have children with celebrity guests.

She has been with her husband Martin, aka Boj, for the past eight years, with the pair getting married in 2022 in a gorgeous London ceremony, having welcomed their daughter Noa one year prior.

Cameron Stout (2003)

The Orkney native melted viewers hearts (Picture: Rex)

Cameron hailed from Orkney, Scotland and melted hearts by donating his winnings to his local church to pay for a new piano.

We first met him as a fish trader, and now he works as a teacher after returning to the Scottish island after qualifying in 2010.

He’s also been keeping his community busy by launching an escape room and arock choir in Orkney.

In 2018, Cameron claimed his biggest expense was a Range Rover.

Nadia Almada (2004)

Nadia’s appearance on the series was groundbreaking (Picture: Rex)

Nadia was a groundbreaker as the first ever transgender winner of Big Brother – scoring 74.32% of the final vote to take home the win.

She became such an iconic face that she was even flown over to Australia for a guest appearance on their version of the show.

Both Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal have named Nadia as one of their favourite housemates of all time.

She returned in 2010 for Ultimate Big Brother, but proved to clash with other winners and she was eliminated quickly.

Since then, Nadia hasn’t made as many public appearances, but she is still residing in London, and recently revealed her 6 stone weight loss after ‘life-saving’ surgery.

Anthony Hutton (2005)

Anthony is now a happily married barber living in Darlington (Picture: Rex)

Anthony caused a stir in Big Brother after appearing to engage in sexual acts with Makosi Musambasi in the hot tub.

He also had a complicated relationship with fellow housemate Craig, who appeared to have unrequited romantic feelings for the Geordie.

Since leaving the house, Anthony has set up shop – literally – with Mr Hutton’s Barbers and Bar, in Darlington, County Durham.

Anthony is also happily married to wife Sophie.

Pete Bennett (2006)

Peter Bennett is now working as an actor (Picture: Getty Images)

Pete won over the nation thanks to his loveable hyperactive nature, punk rock attitude, and unlikely romance with Nikki Grahame.

Diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome at the age of 14, he was also prone to swearing due to an involuntary tic.

Since appearing on Big Brother, Pete has turned his attention from music to acting, with a string of indie flicks and TV shows to his name.

Among them include Green Fingers, which is now available on Amazon Prime.

He was also due to appear alongside Catherine Tate in This Nan’s Life – a prequel tale about the comedian’s iconic foul-mouthed Nana – though the scene was later cut.

Brian Belo (2007)

Brian still pops up every now and again on TV (Picture: Channel 4)

Brian was the first and only black housemate to ever win Big Brother. In 18 years.

He then became a TV entertainment reporter appearing on shows like Harry Hill’s TV Burp, and tried and failed to launch a music career.

In 2008, he played a parody of himself in Big Brother/zombie series, Dead Set.

Beloved for his sweet but strong nature, he returned for Big Brother Time Warp in 2015, but left after getting into a horrific row with Helen Wood.

In 2013, he earned another windfall as the result of a lawsuit with Lime Pictures production company, claiming that he had come up with the idea for reality show The Only Way Is Essex.

It was settled out of court.

Rachel Rice (2008)

Rachel is now a teacher (Picture: Getty)

Rachel returned to Wales after her time on the show was over.

Getting married in 2011, Rachel is now the proud mum to two sons.

She is currently working as a teacher in a comprehensive school, teaching drama and music.

Sophie Reade (2009)

Sophie became a Playboy model and became a mum (Picture: Rex)

Model and stylist Rache; took home the win in 2009.

Shortly after she landed her major break by being offered the opportunity to work for Playboy appearing in the raunchy iconic magazine.

She also made regular appearances on lads mags.

In 2013, she had a son with Scottish footballer David Goodwillie, but has raised Walter as a single mum.

She is still modelling and has built a following on Instagram.

Josie Gibson (2010)

Josie is now a regular face on daytime TV (Picture: Rex)

Josie has become one of Big Brother’s most well-known faces since her ever-positive nature secured her the win back in 2010.

She’s had her own one-off reality documentary shows about her life after the series, and her short-lived romance with fellow housemate John James.

The star is also a regular face on panel shows and celebrity game shows including Celebrity Juice, Loose Women and Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.

These days, the bubbly Bristolian has become a regular feature on This Morning and Loose Women, often fronting their call-in competition segments.

In 2018, she welcomed her baby boy, Reggie.

Aaron Allard Morgan (2011)

Aaron returned to normality as well once his time on the show was over (Picture: Getty)

Since his time on Big Brother, Aaron is another housemate who opted to live a quiet life.

Apart from a couple of appearances on chat show spin-off Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, he pretty much returned to normal.

With next to no social media presence, the only confirmed information there is on the star is that he owns a pug.

It’s been reported he also runs a bar in Weston-Super-Mare.

Luke Anderson (2012)

Luke is now using his platform to advocate for LGBT rights (Picture: Rex)

The second transgender housemate to win the show, Luke has since been using his platform to advocate for LGBT rights.

Luke has since taken up a role in the kitchen full time as a chef, developing his career in that sector instead.

He’s now a proud dad to twins with his other half.

Sam Evans (2013)

Sam won over the nation in 2013 (Picture: Getty)

Charming Welsh boy Sam won over the nation and was praised for his appearance, becoming the first deaf housemate to take home the win.

Donating £25,000 of his £100k prize money to charity, and has a become an ambassador for Deaf Kidz International and Sound Seekers.

He opted not to follow fame after his time in the house, and returned to a regular life.

Helen Wood (2014)

Helen Wood won the show and was never short of scandal (Picture: WENN)

Helen made headlines before she even entered the Big Brother house thanks to her former work as an escort and her alleged encounters with stars including Wayne Rooney. 

Her time in the house was a fiery one, with Helen unafraid of starting rows with her co-stars, and nabbed the vote with just a 1% margin between her and Ashleigh Coyle.

Helen returned a year later for a ‘time warp’ challenge, where more than 1,000 Ofcom complaints were made about her following a row with fellow returning housemate Brian Belo.

In the fight, Helen branded Brian ‘psycho’ and said he ‘looked like a rapist’, while he said she ‘made money out of being a scumbag’.

Helen later became a columnist and made frequent appearances on shows including This Morning. 

In 2019, she released a book about her experiences as an escort and being in the limelight, titled A Man’s World.

Chloe Wilburn (2015)

Chloe is now a proud mum and business owner (Picture: Channel 4)

Chloe beat Joel Williams and Danny Wisker to become 2015 champion, and then quickly returned back to normality.

After her brush with fame, the Doncaster native has married, and had a baby boy with other half Dom Tasker.

Locking down her social medias, Chloe likes to keep herself private, and ran a business selling Canaoil – a CBD infused cooking oil.

Jason Burrill (2016)

Jason invested his winnings into property development (Picture: Getty)

Jason’s victory in the 2016 series didn’t come without its scandal – as he became the controversial winner over Hughie Maughan. 

The James Bond stuntman lost favour with viewers after swiping £20,000 from the prize fund in exchange for fan fave Lateysha Grace, who was immediately evicted. 

Winning a further £70,000 as the series champion, Jason vowed to spend some of the money on a private matter related to his father. 

Jason used the rest to create his business as a property developer, and in 2018 revealed that his investments could earn him up to £20million over the next 10 years. 

Isabelle Warburton (2017)

Isabelle was the last civilian winner of Big Brother (Picture: Rex)

Isabelle was a late arrival but won people over with her Essex charm and love of tanning.

Several years down the line, and Isabelle has now turned her passion into her profession, and has set up her own beauty salon.

From gel nails all the way through to minor medical procedures like lip filler, Isabelle has it all covered.

Isabelle shares two children with her partner Mike Chung.

Cameron Cole (2018)

Cameron was the final winner of Big Brother (Picture: Getty)

Cameron, then 19, was crowned the final ever winner of the original Big Brother in 2018. 

During his time in the house, Cameron was cheered on by viewers as he came out as gay to his fellow housemates in one of the most emotional moments the show ever aired.

When asked how he was going to spend his money by Emma Willis, he admitted he ‘hadn’t really thought that far ahead’. 

After leaving the house, Cameron continued to create YouTube videos, relaunching his channel in the wake of his win and detailing the ins and outs of his experience on the show. 

Jordan Sangha (2023)

Jordan won the first series of the new Big Brother (Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock)

Not only did Jordan find fame through winning Big Brother, he also found love with fellow housemate Henry Southan.

The couple have kept loyal fans updated on social media, after confirming they were officially boyfriends upon leaving the house.

When asked what his plans for the £100,000 prize money were last year, the lawyer even admitted he planned on whisking Henry away on a romantic holiday.

Big Brother continues at 9pm on ITV2.

A version of this article was originally published on June 14, 2020.

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