BIG Brother was the ultimate reality TV show in its heyday, and it did not disappoint with drama.
Some of its contestants found love – including series seven stars Grace and Mikey who recently announced the birth of their fourth child.
17
17
But while these two stood the test of time, others didn’t share their happy ending.
Here, we take a look at what happened to Big Brother’s most memorable couples…
Helen Adams and Paul Clarke
It’s been over 20 years since original Big Brother couple Helen and Paul met on series two back in 2001.
There was a genuine spark between the pair, and after leaving the house they were together for an impressive five years.
The couple were even offered a fly-on-the-wall reality series after finding fame, but opted to turn it down, choosing to live their lives out of the spotlight.
17
17
Most read in Showbiz
Sadly the lovebirds split in 2006, and hairdresser Helen has reportedly since got married and started a family.
Speaking to Heat Magazine, Helen said at the time: “I felt a little bit like the Wicked Witch because I was the first to say something.
“But then Paul said to me, ‘Would you want to marry me?’ and I said, ‘I don’t think I would’ and he said, ‘Well, I don’t want to marry you either’. And we laughed.
“Once we started being honest we realised we get on better as friends.”
Lee Davey and Sophie Pritchard
17
17
Series three contestant Lee only spent 18 days in the house, however it was long enough to kickstart his public romance with Sophie, who arrived on day 10 of the 2002 season.
The pair fell for each other after the show and were the first ever Big Brother housemates to get married, after he proposed live on breakfast TV.
The whirlwind couple exchanged vows a year later at a reality star-studded wedding, and went on to have a son called Maxwell – however things ended 10 months later.
While Sophie appears to have disappeared off the showbiz radar, boydbuilder Lee went on to work as a stripper in Dream Boys. He now writes for the French football website PSG Talk.
Michelle Bass and Stuart Wilson
17
17
Michelle and Stuart aka “Chicken Stu” met in the 2004 series of the show, and got tongues wagging as viewers speculated about what exactly they got up to under that table.
The couple stayed together for a year after the show, and Michelle enjoyed a successful glamour modelling career.
Stuart reportedly went on to try his hand at music, unsuccessfully auditioning for James Bourne’s band Son of Dork.
Speaking some years later, Geordie Michelle said: “We just went our separate ways in the end. It wasn’t meant to be.
“When was the last time anybody saw him? Does he even exist anymore? Who knows?”
Now, they both predominantly live out of the spotlight. Michelle is happily married to hypnotist Steve McKeown and the pair have two children.
Saskia Howard-Clarke and Maxwell Ward
17
Saskia and Maxwell met on series six of the show in 2005 and were together for two years before splitting.
It all seemed pretty good-natured until Maxwell appeared to take aim at his ex in an interview with Heat magazine.
Speaking in 2010 he said: “I’m not blowing my own trumpet, but if I hadn’t got with you [Saskia], I would’ve won the show hands down!
“If I had the time again, and I’m sure you’d say the same thing, I wouldn’t have got with you and you wouldn’t have got with me.”
Nikki Grahame and Pete Bennett
17
17
In one of the sweetest relationships to have emerged from the reality show, while their romance didn’t go the distance, Nikki and Pete’s friendship certainly did.
The series seven pair shared a brief, touching relationship on the show and stayed close, with Pete, who has Tourettes, visiting Nikki before her tragic death last April.
While on the show in 2006, Pete won the hearts of the British public, winning the series with over 60 per cent of the vote.
Chanelle Hayes and Ziggy Lichman
17
17
Dubbed the “Posh and Becks of reality TV”, Chanelle and Ziggy lasted just six months outside of the house after meeting in 2007.
Chanelle later revealed they were still in touch saying: “Yeah, we’ll chat every now and again. I don’t talk to anybody else from the show really.”
The pair also reunited on Loose Women in 2018, and revealed their true feelings about each other, with Ziggy saying: “I have no doubt that we were in love.”
Now, Ziggy – real name Zach – is the owner of a restaurant and bar in Kensal Rise, and Chanelle is a mum and a student nurse.
Lisa Appleton and Mario Marconi
17
17
Lisa and Mario made a big impression when they became the first couple to enter the house together in series nine.
The couple got engaged on the show, and married a year later.
They were later led to believe they’d landed their own reality TV series, but it turned out they’d been duped by a conman who made off with their cash.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Lisa said: “[The conman] destroyed my life, confidence and dignity.
“When he disappeared we were penniless and homeless, we had nothing.”
After eight years together, Lisa and Mario eventually divorced in 2013.
Speaking about the split, Lisa said: “Mario and I were unhappy for a while – our whole world fell apart around us when we got conned.”
Lisa was recently snapped going skinny dipping in the sea in the UK, putting out her bins in skimpy attire and living out of the boot of her car after she was allegedly kicked out of her accommodation for throwing wild parties.
Rex Newmark and Nicole Cammack
17
17
Contestants on the ninth series, Rex entered the house before being joined by his girlfriend Nicole on day 58.
However the pair constantly rowed in the house before the blonde beauty was evicted on day 79.
Rex went on to survive until day 93, finishing fourth overall, and the pair split shortly after appearing on the show.
Now, Rex is a private chef and restauranteur, while Nicole has stepped away from the limelight.
