Big Brother: the most iconic contestants of ALL TIME

From Nikki Grahame and Charley Uchea to Nasty Nick and last year's winner Jordan Sangha

charley uchea nikki graham nasty nick brian belo

by Babi Diffang |
Updated on

With the new season of Big Brother fast approaching, we bring you our absolute favourite, most entertaining housemates since the inception of the show.

With a star-studded line-up of unforgettable personalities, we will recount all the drama, laughs, and unforgettable moments that viewers have enjoyed over the years.

So here’s our rundown of our most entertaining Big Brother housemates...

Nikki Grahame

nikki grahame big brother
nikki outside the big brother house ©MJ Kim/Getty Images

It wouldn't be an iconic list without the late Nikki Grahame. Her unparalleled Diary Room outbursts and memorable catchphrases during Big Brother 7 made her a beloved and unforgettable figure in Big Brother history. She left a mark on the world of reality TV with her unforgettable presence and unique charm.

Memorable moments: Nikki’s iconic “Who is she?” rant in the Diary Room became an instant classic as well as the “I’m cold” incident. They quickly made her a fan favourite.

Josie Gibson

josie gibson big brother
josie outside the big brother house ©Getty Images: Mike Marsland/WireImage

Josie Gibson’s journey from a bubbly and down-to-earth contestant to winning Big Brother series 11 captured the hearts of viewers. Her relatability and genuine nature earned her a special place in the Big Brother hall of fame.

Memorable moments: Josie’s heartwarming relationship with John James and her genuine reactions to various challenges.

'Nasty' Nick Bateman

nasty nick Nick Bateman
nasty nick outside the big brother house ©Getty Images: Mike Marsland/WireImage

The most polarising figure in the show's history, 'Nasty' Nick Bateman's strategic gameplay and cunning antics introduced a new level of intrigue to Big Brother, leaving an enduring impact on future contestants across seasons.

Memorable moments: Nasty Nick’s manipulation and attempt to influence nominations caused shockwaves in Big Brother series one, leading to his infamous confrontation with fellow housemates.

Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace

Aisleyne horgan-wallace
aisleyne outside the big brother house ©Getty Images: Simon James/WireImage

Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace’s no-nonsense attitude and outspoken nature made her a standout contestant during Big Brother 7. Her ability to stir up drama and speak her mind kept viewers coming back for more.

Memorable moments: Her clashes with Nikki and her role in the Princess and Pirates task added layers of drama.

Charley Uchea

charley uchea big brother
LONDON - MAY 30: Contestant Charley Uchea arrives to take part in reality TV show Big Brother series 8 at Elstree Television Studios on May 30, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images) ©Stuart Wilson/Getty Images

Charley Uchea left an indelible mark with her fierce personality and explosive clashes during Big Brother series 8 with fellow housemate Chanelle Hayes.

Memorable moments: Charley’s explosive argument with Chanelle over Rihanna’s age had us hooked.

Chanelle Hayes

chanelle hayes big brother
chanelle outside the big brother house ©Stuart Wilson/Getty Images

Chanelle Hayes, a captivating diva known for her fiery clashes with Charley, also brought a whirlwind on-again-off-again romance with housemate Ziggy Lichman and it kept us glued to the screens.

Memorable Moment: Chanelle's explosive Diary Room tantrum following a row with Charley about Rihanna's age.

Sukhvinder Javeed

Sukhvinder Javeed big brother
sukhvinder outside the big brother house ©Getty Images: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Known for her strong opinions and unapologetic demeanor during Big Brother series 18, Sukhvinder Javeed's return promised to bring a fresh perspective and unfiltered commentary to the house.

Memorable moments: Her unapologetic take on the flatness of the earth.

Brian Dowling

brian dowling big brother
brian outside the big brother house ©Getty Images: Eamonn McCormack/WireImage

After winning Big Brother series 2 due to his charismatic personality, humor and wit, it’s no shock that since then Brian Dowling has gone on to become a TV presenter and radio host.

Memorable moments: His hilarious moments in the Diary Room captured the essence of the house dynamics.

Brian Belo

brian belo big brother
brian outside the big brother house ©Getty Images: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Another uber successful contestant from Big Brother was Brian Belo. He won the audience over with his charming lad next door personality and it was no shock when he won the eighth series of Big Brother.

Memorable moments: One of the standout moments of the show was the fact that he didn’t know who Shakespeare was.

Nadia Almada

nadia almada
nadia outside the big brother house ©Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

During Big Brother series 5, Nadia Almada became the show's first-ever transgender housemate and her humour and openness sure did leave a lasting impact.

Memorable moments: Nadia’s candid discussions allowed viewers to witness a significant moment of representation.

Kate Lawler

kate lawler big brother
kate outside the big brother house ©John Li/Getty Images

During the third series of the show, Kate Lawler became the first female winner of Big Brother UK. She quickly became a fan favourite because of her genuine and likeable demeanour that not only impressed us, but also her fellow housemates.

Memorable moments: Kate and Alison Hammond becoming firm friends and giving themselves the nickname “Fame Twins” was so wholesome.

Yinrun Huang

Yinrun Huang
Yinrun made it all the way to the Big Brother final ©James Veysey/Shutterstock

We had high hopes that ITV would come through with some iconic housemates when they rebooted Big Brother last year and they well and truly delivered. One housemate who made their mark on the house was Yinrun Huang, who we knew was going to be TV gold from the moment she made her entrance and immediately froze when she realised the other housemates were playing musical statues.

Memorable moments: We don't think we'll ever be able to forget the hilarious image of Yinrun in the Bigwigs task and she also had us in tears when she reunited with her then-boyfriend and now-fiancé Luke when he entered the house for a task

Jordan Sangha

Jordan Sangha
Jordan won the first ever ITV series of Big Brother ©James Veysey/Shutterstock

Jordan Sangha's dry sense of humour, sardonic outlook on life and, of course, his friendship turned romance with Henry Southan propelled him into the hearts of the Great British public and all the way to the Big Brother 2023 crown, making him a show legend in the process.

Memorable moments: Jordan's cheeky late night snog with Henry in the hot tub is the moment that they finally crossed the line from friends to more and it will go down in BB history.

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