Big Brother’s Best Moments: Iconic Highlights for 25th Anniversary

It has been 25 years since the first series of Big Brother hit TV screens in 2000, captivating the British public and becoming an instant classic. 

Deemed TV’s ‘first social experiment’, the concept of contestants being locked in a house together and surveilled 24 hours a day was at that time a baffling one. 

The show’s name was inspired by the famous George Orwell quote ‘Big Brother is watching you’ from his dystopian novel 1984, with contestants’ every move watched via nightly episodes and live streams. 

Big Brother first launched on Channel 4 at the turn of the millennium hosted by Davina McCall, and immediately became a ratings hit. 

Despite its popularity, falling ratings and budget cuts saw Big Brother axed by Channel 4 in 2010 – only for Channel 5 to quickly acquire the rights the following year, with its version first presented by former winner Brian Dowling before Emma Willis took over as host in 2013.

However it was axed for a second time in 2018, only to be revived yet again in 2023 by ITV fronted by joint hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best.

Famous for its controversial and sometimes scandalous moments, Big Brother was responsible for some of the wildest scenes to ever grace British TV screens – including a Pamela Anderson cameo.

From Nasty Nick and the late Nikki Graheme’s iconic ‘Who is she?’ rant to THAT hot tub scene between Anthony Hutton and Makosi Musambasi – here are Big Brother’s best bits as it turns 25.

Nasty Nick – Series One (2000)

As viewers were enthralled with season one, the behaviour of housemate Nick Bateman was the most shocking – leading to his ‘Nasty Nick’ nickname 

Viewers were left enthralled with the inaugural season, where the behaviour of housemate Nick Bateman was the most shocking. 

The city broker won the nickname Nasty Nick after he attempted to cheat in the game and pass notes between contestants to sway nominations. 

He was confronted by eventual winner Craig Phillips who gathered the house around the kitchen table to discuss Nick’s notes.

‘How can you be so two faced?’ Craig asked him. ‘I know it’s true, you know it’s true.’

The scheme backfired on Nick as he was ejected from the house on Day 35 for breaking the rules around nominations while Craig went on to win the show.

It sounds innocent now but the scandal featured on the front page of every single national newspaper except the Financial Times which put it on page three.

Fight Night – Series Five (2004)

Fans of Big Brother will remember one of the show’s most infamous arguments in series five that would become known as Fight Night

Big Brother pushed boundaries with its novel concept and 24-hour live streaming however viewers thought it went too far during series five. 

The series featured a host of shocking moments, yet none more so than Fight Night. 

During series five Emma Greenwood and Michelle Bass re-entered the house after a false eviction landed them in ‘The Bedsit’, where they watched on as their housemates spoke about them. 

Upon their return, the house became embroiled in a food fight. 

As arguments escalated, winner Nadia Almada, from Ribeira Brava, Madeira, Portugal, slapped Jason Cowan. 

After this Emma and Victor Ebuwa both threw trays at each other before they were separated when she screamed: ‘I will f**king kill you’. 

When the fight kicked off, BB placed guards at the camera runs and while the shocking activities escalated guards were sent into the house via the bedroom, where the were stationed while the stars slept.

As a consequence Emma was removed the next day and Victor was made to see a psychologist. 

All housemates bar four were given warnings by Big Brother. 

Makosi Hot Tub – Series Six (2005)

Winner Anthony Hutton and co-star Makosi Musambasi were deemed a possible couple in the house leading to a boozy night in the pool in which they appeared to engage in sexual activity

Winner Anthony Hutton and co-star Makosi Musambasi enjoyed a boozy night in the pool in which they appeared to engage in sexual activity. 

While Anthony vowed they never had sex, 48 hours after the moment Makosi claimed she was pregnant with his child. 

After leaving the house Makosi, who was a nurse, insisted that she believed she was pregnant, however crowds chanted ‘liar’ at her during the final. 

Makosi came in third place in the sixth series of Big Brother but she encountered visa difficulties after she left the house as she was only allowed to live in the UK as long as she was working for the NHS.

She returned to England in 2010 to appear on Ultimate Big Brother before the show moved to Channel 5, being evicted by the public on day 11. 

In 2012 she was reportedly deported to Nigeria and banned from Britain after attempting to enter the country using a relative’s passport.

The wine bottle incident – Series Six (2005)

Kinga Karolczak left viewers aghast when she famously used a wine bottle as a tool for masturbation in the communal garden (Seen recreating a parody of the moment in 2006)

Things took an X-rated turn during Big Brother six thanks to eccentric housemate Kinga Karolczak. 

Kinga entered the house late in the series and caused possibly one of the most shocking moments of the entire show. 

The half Polish, half Kuwaiti market researcher from London left viewers aghast when she famously used a wine bottle as a tool for masturbation in the communal garden. 

After getting drunk with housemates Anthony Hutton and Craig Coates, the buxom blonde told the guys that she planned to pleasure herself with the empty wine bottle. 

In her exit interview with show host Davina McCall, Kinga insisted that the whole debacle was a joke and she was only pretending.  

Nikki Graeme’s ‘Who Is She?’ – Series Seven (2006)

During Big Brother 7 Nikki Grahame screamed: ‘Who is she?!’ as she vented her frustration over new housemate Susie Verrico

Often regarded as one of the best series in the show’s history, Big Brother 7 introduced the public to Nikki Grahame.

The Hertfordshire native became known for throwing tantrums over harmless situations such as having to get out of bed or not being able to make a pair of headphones work.

In her most memorable moment, Nikki stormed into the diary room and vented her frustration over new housemate Susie Verrico.

Nikki shouted at Big Brother: ‘I’m feeling very venomous and angry. How dare she vote for me, she doesn’t even know me. What have I f***ing done?… She’s just marched in in her golden gown and just ousted me out, and it’s not fair! 

‘Who is she? Who is she? Who is she? Where did you find her?’ And reality TV history was made. 

Nikki tragically passed away in 2021 after a battle with anorexia nervosa.  

Pammy’s Cameo – Series 12 (2011)

Both housemates and viewers were in awe when they walked into the house in 2011 to discover Pamela Anderson waiting for them

Pamela remained in the house and set tasks for the housemates throughout (pictured with Natasha Graziano) 

Both housemates and viewers were in awe when they walked into the house in 2011 to discover Pamela Anderson waiting for them. 

As the 14 new housemates got acquainted with each other and their surroundings, the shutters opened, showing the contestants their garden. 

But as they made their way to the doors, Baywatch star Pamela was sitting outside looking sensational in a figure-hugging red dress.

At first, the housemates were unsure what was going on until the penny dropped and someone shouted: ‘Oh my god, it’s Pamela Anderson!’

She remained in the house and set tasks for the housemates throughout. 

Pamela made her first move into a Big Brother house in 2008 when she joined the Australian version of the show for a three-day visit. 

Two years later she was on the Indian version of the show and in 2011, the UK version, with her popping up at the Bulgarian show in 2012 and the German one in 2013.

Sofa Foreplay – Series 17 (2016) 

 In some of the most shockingly explicit sexual scenes ever to be broadcast live on mainstream TV, Marco Jnr was seen stripping off with housemate Laura Carter

Housemate Laura Carter, who previously claimed to have bedded Justin Bieber, soared to prominence again in the summer following an on-screen romp with Marco Pierre White Jr. 

The duo garnered a huge number of Ofcom complaints due to their overtly sexual behaviour, including Marco biting her nipple before they engaged in sex on the programme.

Viewers were disgusted when they engaged in foreplay on the sofa, with Laura seen lifting up her top as Marco Jnr sucked her bare breast.

The episode then closed with the duo between the sheets, writhing around, and appearing to take things to the next level.

Speaking about the rendezvous, Laura said: ‘It wasn’t full blown sex, but we had sex basically. Straight after it happened he said: “OH MY GOD! What’s my family and my fiancée going to say?”

‘I was like mate; you can’t say this now. I think he feels guilty.’