In the summer of 2000, British television was changed forever when 10 strangers entered a house in Bow, East London - with cameras following their every move.
The inaugural series of Big Brother marked a significant cultural shift. Before the era of memes, Love Island or TikTok, this was the programme that sparked nationwide conversations and voting frenzies.
With weekly evictions, live shows every Friday night, and no contact with the outside world, Big Brother 1 turned Craig, Anna, Melanie, and, of course, 'Nasty Nick' into household names in the pre-social media era. But what happened to these original housemates once the cameras stopped rolling?
Here's an update on the Class of 2000 - from empire-building and family-raising to seeking a quieter life in Argentina, as reported by the Daily Record.
Craig Phillips
Craig entered the Big Brother house as a builder from Liverpool and emerged as the UK's first-ever winner. Shortly after winning the £70,000 prize money, he made headlines by donating the entire amount to his friend Joanne Harris, who required a life-saving heart and lung transplant.
Within six days of his victory, the fundraising target was achieved due to an overwhelming national response and celebrity support. Post-Big Brother, Craig established himself as a DIY guru, hosting numerous home makeover programmes like 60 Minute Makeover, Trading Up, and Big Strong Boys.
In 2000, he even released a charity single At This Time of Year, which reached No. 14 in the UK charts and raised more than £40,000 for the Down's Syndrome Association. He subsequently established a production company, Avent Productions, and became a regular face on Discovery Realtime and the Forces Broadcasting Service.
In recent years, Craig and his wife Laura have been running the successful Mr and Mrs DIY YouTube channel, offering guidance on home improvements with a cheerful demeanour. They tied the knot in 2018, are parents to two children, and featured on Millionaire Age Gap Love in 2020.
Anna Nolan
An ex-nun who identifies as a lesbian was not your typical reality show participant in 2000 - and that's precisely why Anna stood out. She ended up as the runner-up and quickly gained recognition for her composed presence in the house, often acting as a mediator during heated moments (including Nick's downfall).
Post Big Brother, Anna moved into broadcasting - hosting BBC series such as Anna in Wonderland and Closure, before returning to Ireland where she co-presented The Afternoon Show on RTÉ for three years. She's presented a range of programmes from paranormal documentaries to food shows.
Behind the scenes, Anna has built a solid career as a producer and development executive. She's overseen shows like Room To Improve, Operation Transformation, and The Great Irish Bake Off. As of 2024, she's head of development at COCO Content, producing major TV events.
Darren Ramsay
Third-place finalist Darren Ramsay brought a quiet charm and sincerity to the Big Brother house - but post-show, he largely withdrew from the public eye. Darren popped up on shows like Good Food Live and The Weakest Link, and even underwent training as a cabin crew member for the TV programme Airline, although he never qualified after being asked to leave.
Nowadays, Darren leads a more private life, working a typical 9-5 job in a research company.
Melanie Hill
Mel became one of the most talked-about figures during her time in the Big Brother house – her dalliance with housemate Tom not least among the reasons. Post-Big Brother, she dedicated herself to journalism, contributing to The Guardian and presenting the E4 series Chained.
However, her journey through fame was far from dazzling at times. In an open letter from 2002 titled How Big Brother Destroyed My Life, Mel gave an honest account of the intense media attention and harassment she faced.
She has since cautioned women against participating on the reality show, sharing insights into the psychological impact of instant celebrity. Now, she is fulfilling the role of a marketing director and mum to her son Otis, whom she co-parents with partner Glenn.
Tom McDermott
Tom remains memorable for his Big Brother stint largely due to his romance with Claire Strutton, marking them as the first love story of the series. Together they welcomed their son Pierce in 2001 and relocated to Marbella where they jointly managed a property website. After parting ways in 2004, Tom went back to the UK and now runs his own property enterprise in Cornwall.
Claire Strutton
Once labelled the house tease, Claire has gone on to enjoy entrepreneurial success. Now happily wed to businessman Ian Radford, the pair proudly run a chic beach resort in Marbella, and oversee a collection of renowned nightclubs situated in Gibraltar and Essex.
Andy Davidson
Andy, who left the show second, is memorable for an infamous smooch with Mel. Ditching reality TV, he climbed the corporate ladder to become head of client strategy at Flamingo, a respected brand and insight consultancy in the capital.
Caroline O'Shea
Known for injecting wit and sass into the show, Caroline's post-BB trajectory has been less linear. Reportedly, she's ventured into adult toy sales, dabbled with music projects, and wasn't shy in accepting topless modelling gigs.
Appearing sporadically in reality TV reunions, her cameos include stints on The Weakest Link and The Only Way Is Essex. Trying her hand at acting, she continues to feature on casting call sites.
Nichola Holt
Notable for her artistic flair and the mantra "It's just the game!", Nichola released a dance track echoing the phrase. Despite a lukewarm reception peaking at 72 in the charts, she remained undeterred.
Her personal life saw her tie the knot with fitness expert Yas Parr in relaxed beachwear in Mexico. The marriage ended after just 18 months. Now in her late 40s, Nichola, lives in Bolton with her daughter, steering clear from the public gaze.
Sada Walkington
Sada, the first contestant to be evicted from Big Brother UK, has veered away from the public eye and onto a distinctively different path. She now resides in Argentina, where she works as a yoga instructor and raises her 2005-born twins, Indigo and Padma.
In the past, Sada has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with how she was portrayed on the show, accusing producers of manipulating her image to fit a "dippy hippie" stereotype. Her new life abroad is tranquil and peaceful, quite removed from the chaos of the Big Brother house - which appears to suit her just fine.
Nick 'Nasty Nick' Bateman
Nick Bateman became infamous for his underhanded attempts to manipulate nominations and his explosive confrontation with fellow contestant Craig. He's also retreated from the limelight in the years since his brush with fame.
Although he resurfaced in reality TV specials such as Ultimate Big Brother, Nick now calls Australia home, where he keeps a decidedly low profile, distancing himself from his contentious reality TV days.
