Dowling is public's favourite Big Brother housemate

Irishman Brian Dowling has topped a recent poll of Big Brother personalities.

The TV presenter from Rathangan, Co Kildare, who won the second series of the Channel 4 reality programme, scooped top place in the radiotimes.com survey.

Jade Goody remains one of Big Brother’s most popular contestants despite the fall-out over this year’s race row.

The loudmouthed reality TV star, whose reputation suffered following allegations of racist bullying in the celebrity version of the show, came second in the poll.

Nick Bateman, dubbed “Nasty Nick” because of his trickery in the original series, is third.

Tourette’s Syndrome sufferer Pete Bennett is fourth, followed by sci-fi fan Jon Tickle.

Car salesman Paul Clarke and hairdresser Helen Adam’s blossoming relationship in the second series was voted the top Big Brother romance, followed by Bennett’s fiery affair with Nikki Grahame.

Ziggy Lichman and Chanelle Hayes’s romance from this series only made fourth place, after Stuart and Michelle’s.

More than 2,500 people took part in the poll.

Big Brother’s favourite “characters”:

1. Brian Dowling (BB2)

2. Jade Goody (BB3)

3. ’Nasty’ Nick Bateman (BB1)

4. Pete Bennett (BB7)

5. Jon Tickle (BB4)