Brian Dowling feels that some people are trying to "erase" his history with 'Big Brother'.
Brian Dowling feels that his time as Big Brother presenter has been erased from history
The 45-year-old presenter shot to fame when he won the second series of the Channel 4 reality show in 2001 and later replaced Davina McCall as host when it moved to Channel 5 before passing the baton to Emma Willis but as the ITV1 revival got underway on Sunday (08.10.23) evening, he claimed his association with fronting the programme has been forgotten altogether.
He wrote on Instagram: "Tonight is the night and some may even say, the long-awaited return of 'Big Brother'. I've posted so much stuff on here over the years regarding winning 'Big Brother' in 2001 and also winning ‘Ultimate Big Brother’ in 2010 both of these opportunities 100% changed my life. I have the ABSOLUTE BEST MEMORIES EVER as a housemate. I then went on to host the show for six seasons, the first man to host Big Brother!
It's so odd looking back at myself with no beard I think just over 8 Million people tuned in to watch the first live show. We had some INCREDIBLE HOUSEMATES.
From crowning Luke Anderson 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 the job of hosting the main show. I, of course, said yes, even though it was the spin-off show I wanted and not the main show. But I would have been a fool to turn it down. Speaking honestly, I always feel some people like to change history and try and erase the fact I hosted the show directly after Davina and then it went to Emma."
The 'Real Housewives of Cheshire' host went on to add that even as recently as last week, new hosts AJ Odudo and Will Best had been interviewed about the reboot and noted that his name did not come up at all during the segment.
He added: "Just recently, on Friday's This Morning, for example. The new hosts of Big Brother AJ and Will were being interviewed and noted that his name was not mentioned at all during the segmen
were asked if they had spoken to " Emma and Davina" obviously as the ex hosts and then their pics were brought up on screen. Yet again, there wasn't even a mention of my time hosting, or even anyone on the production team that would have at least flagged that I was also an ex-presenter. It would have been so lovely to have been included, or to even get a thumbs up from my peers would be INCREDIBLE. I find it so odd that this keeps happening."
Brian is now married to Arthur Gourounlian and went on to add that he goes into "much more detail" about his time on the show in a new book and the "impact" it had on him but signed off by wishing the new hosts the "best of luck" for the series.
He added: "Arthur and I have our book coming out on the 26th of October this month and I go into much more detail surrounding this time of my life as the host of 'Big Brother' and the aftermath and the impact it had on my life. I think AJ is a FABULOUS choice as a host. I don't know Will, but he seems like a lot of fun. I would like to wish them both the best of luck as the new hosts.
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