Former Big Brother Star Brian Dowling: ‘Some people like to change history'
Brian Dowling was the first man to host Big Brother. Picture: @bprdowling
He credits the ultimate reality TV show as having “100% changed my life,” but today Irish TV presenter Brian Dowling, who presented Big Brother for six seasons, also has an axe to grind.
In an Instagram post, sharing a picture of himself on the day the pilot of Celebrity Big Brother was recorded, the dad of one says that although he has the best memories ever as a housemate, there are some he feels overlook his contribution to the show.
“Just recently, on Friday’s This Morning, for example," the 47-year-old posted, "the new hosts of Big Brother AJ and Will were being interviewed and they were asked if they had spoken to 'Emma and Davina' obviously as the ex hosts and their pictures 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.”
The social experiment returned to ITV last night five years after it was axed by Channel 5 amid a ratings slump.
The show has already been stirring up controversy online. Fans flocked to social media to comment on the revamped show with some saying it was too slow. "It's frantic, rushed, hastily edited," wrote one X (formally Twitter) user. Others lamented presenter Davina McCall's absence. "Not the same without Davina. Bring her back," wrote another.
But Brian Dowling said it would have been nice to have been acknowledged for his own position on the show. “It would have been so lovely to have been included or even get a thumbs up from my peers would be incredible. I find it so odd that this keeps happening.”
The Kildare native was the first man to host Big Brother after having won the second-ever series in 2001 and winning the Ultimate Big Brother in 2010. The 47-year-old spent a combined 82 days in the Big Brother house.
A few well-known faces came out in support of Dowling’s post, including TV chef Donal Skehan who commented; “I remember sitting at the edge of the eye backstage watching you go out and onto that stage and taking that massive crowd when you took on the gig first, no easy feat and most defo a proud moment to be remembered! Still the ultimate housemate.”
Former Love Island host, Laura Whitmore simply wrote “You’re an icon!” and included a heart emoji.
Dowling is married to dance and TV star Arthur Gourounlian and they share daughter Blake. He also teased how he would go into more detail about his time on Big Brother in his new book coming out on October 26.
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