It’s hard to believe, but it’s been a full quarter of a century since Big Brother first burst onto British TV screens—and rewrote the rulebook for reality TV as we knew it.
Back in 2000, the idea of locking strangers in a house and watching their every move seemed wild.
But soon enough, the UK public was hooked, and TV had officially entered a bold new era.
To mark 25 years of this unpredictable juggernaut, we’re diving deep into the most unforgettable, controversial, and downright shocking moments that have defined Big Brother over the years.
The Beginning of a Phenomenon
The original Big Brother launched in 2000 on Channel 4, with Davina McCall at the helm.
It was marketed as TV’s first “social experiment”, borrowing its name from George Orwell’s 1984.
Contestants were filmed 24/7, their every argument, alliance, and meltdown broadcast to millions.
By 2010, Channel 4 pulled the plug due to dipping ratings—but Channel 5 quickly picked it up, with Brian Dowling and later Emma Willis stepping in as hosts.
After being cancelled again in 2018, Big Brother made a dramatic return in 2023 on ITV, this time co-hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best.
Nasty Nick and the First Ever Scandal (2000)
The first season gave us our very first villain: Nick Bateman, a.k.a. Nasty Nick.
The former stockbroker caused uproar by sneaking notes to other housemates to manipulate nominations—a huge no-no in the BB rulebook.
Fellow housemate Craig Phillips confronted him in front of the entire house, calling him out for being two-faced.
Nick was booted off the show on Day 35. It may seem tame now, but at the time, the scandal made national headlines—everywhere except the Financial Times, which tucked it away on page three.
The Infamous Fight Night (2004)
By Season 5, things got real. Fight Night remains one of the most explosive nights in Big Brother history.
After two housemates, Emma Greenwood and Michelle Bass, returned from a secret hideaway called The Bedsit, all hell broke loose.
The house spiraled into chaos—starting with a food fight, escalating to physical confrontations.
Winner Nadia Almada slapped Jason Cowan, and Emma and Victor Ebuwa launched trays at each other while shouting threats.
The fallout? Emma was removed from the house the next day, Victor was sent to see a psychologist, and nearly the entire house received formal warnings.
The Hot Tub Pregnancy Scare (2005)
Series 6 gave us a jaw-dropping moment between Anthony Hutton and Makosi Musambasi, who were seen getting steamy in the hot tub after a boozy night.
While Anthony denied anything happened, Makosi later told Big Brother she thought she was pregnant—just 48 hours later.
Although she later clarified she genuinely believed she was pregnant at the time, the public wasn’t buying it.
She finished third that year, but after the show, Makosi faced immigration issues and was eventually deported to Nigeria in 2012 after trying to re-enter the UK on a relative’s passport.
The Wine Bottle Shock (2005)
Also in Series 6, viewers were left speechless when late arrival Kinga Karolczak made Big Brother history for all the wrong reasons.
After a wild night of drinking with Anthony and Craig Coates, Kinga decided to pleasure herself with a wine bottle—right there in the communal garden.
Although she later told Davina McCall during her exit interview that it was all just a joke, the moment is still considered one of the most infamous in UK reality TV.
Nikki Grahame’s Iconic Diary Room Meltdown (2006)
You can’t talk about Big Brother without mentioning Nikki Grahame and her legendary rant: “Who is she?”.
The fiery Hertfordshire contestant became an instant icon in Series 7.
Whether it was a broken headphone or being asked to get out of bed, everything set her off.
But it was her outrage at new housemate Susie Verrico that went viral: “How dare she vote for me? She doesn’t even know me!”
Nikki tragically passed away in 2021 following a long struggle with anorexia, but her legacy as one of the most memorable housemates lives on.
Pamela Anderson’s Surprise Entrance (2011)
In a moment that no one saw coming, Pamela Anderson shocked both housemates and viewers alike when she casually appeared in the garden during Series 12.
Wearing a jaw-dropping red dress, the Baywatch star walked in like it was just another Tuesday.
Pamela stayed to set challenges and hang out with the contestants.
It wasn’t her first Big Brother appearance either—she’d previously popped up in the Australian, Indian, Bulgarian, and German versions too.
Foreplay on the Sofa with Marco Pierre White Jr. (2016)
By Series 17, the show had truly pushed every boundary.
Housemates Laura Carter and Marco Pierre White Jr. made headlines for their explicit behaviour just days into the season.
From nipple biting to a steamy scene on the living room sofa, their antics generated a flood of Ofcom complaints.
Despite Marco having a fiancée on the outside, the pair took things even further under the covers later that night.
Laura later reflected on their actions, saying: “It wasn’t full-blown sex, but we had sex basically.”
Marco’s immediate reaction? Panic over what his family and fiancée would think.
Big Brother’s Wild Ride Still Isn’t Over
Whether it was explosive fights, bizarre romances, or star-studded cameos, Big Brother has delivered some of the most outrageous TV moments the UK has ever seen.
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the show remains a cultural touchstone—proof that locking people in a house and watching them crack under pressure is still as fascinating as ever.
And with reality TV only getting bigger, who knows what Big Brother still has in store?