Craig Phillips won Big Brother a staggering 20 years agoThe best stories straight to you in the Echo newsletter - whatever the weatherThey weren’t allowed phones, TV, internet access, and certainly no family or friends.For 65 days and 64 nights they were shut off entirely from the outside world as part of a Now Craig, who lives with his wife Laura and 12-month old The 48-year-old captured the nation’s hearts when he joined series one of the Rather than entering for fame and fortune, Craig was raising funds for his friend Joanne Harris, who had Down’s Syndrome.Joanne needed a heart and lung transplant but was denied the operation in the UK.There was a chance however she could have the treatment in America, but it would cost £250,000.Craig said: “We’d raised about £20,000 to 25,000 in 12 months for her operation, but the price was going up.“I thought something more extreme had to be done. 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I think it’s Yellow Pages, but a woman from Endemol said she was from Big Brother.“I was like 'Whose brother?’ The world of reality TV meant nothing to me.”What followed was several auditions, form filling, police checks, and even a psychiatric screening.Craig said: “It was a six or seven-month process and I was thinking is this going anywhere?“Then 10 days before the show started, I was sitting at home doing VAT returns and the producer was just like you are one of the 10 out of 45,000 people picked for Big Brother.“It’s a funny thing but from that moment of the phone call, I felt like a winner. Madeline used the POV on herself and Minh-Ly was named the replacement nominee.Attempting to get to the bottom of who was spreading lies about her, Minh-Ly confronted Vanessa Clements. Ourexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. Arisa Cox has been promoted to executive producer for the next season of BBCAN! But of course, the viewers only watch an episode for an hour a night, so it is condensed down and you can make it entertaining.“The house we were in had no windows, a fake garden surrounded by studio walls; it was very small and you had the studio lights on you.“It was very, very hard and what I found the hardest was with my company, I was working 100-hours a week between two to three different sites and then all of sudden I’m in there with no phone and no idea what day or time it is.”“I would never say Big Brother is worse than lockdown, people are really suffering at the moment.“But we went through total isolation and for myself it’s been easier for me in the current lockdown than it was in Big Brother.”Since winning the show in 2000, Craig has appeared on numerous television shows, including Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.But he’s made a name for himself by combining his skills broadcast with his building knowledge.Craig said: “I am so glad I had my trade behind me before entering Big Brother.“Some of the people entering reality TV now already have magazine deals and agents so it's different from what I went in with.“I personally never wanted to be famous, I enjoyed work at my building company.“After Big Brother, I had a million and one opportunities and because of my trade, it’s allowed me to work on makeover shows around the world.“I think I survived fame because I never wanted it in the first place.He added: “I always remember, 20 years ago, I was getting my makeup done before the National Television Awards, and sitting next to me was Cliff Richard.“Then Barbara Windsor and her friend Lulu walked in and gave me such good advice.“Barbara said to me how the television industry is fantastic to be in when you don’t need it, but when you need television that’s when it becomes a problem.“And I often think I don’t want to let myself get into that position, but no matter what happens, I know I have always got my building trade.”This summer, Channel 4 will be hosting a Big Brother 20th anniversary show by airing past episodes and reliving some of its most memorable events.They’ll also be broadcasting all episodes from the first series again.He said: “I’m not a gambling man in any way but my prediction for this summer is that Channel 4 is probably going to do a celebrity lockdown Big Brother.“I reckon they have got 10 and 15 celebs they will lockdown for a couple of weeks to keep the press away and then they will start airing a show.“Big Brother is still the most successful television format worldwide and it brings a big revenue, so I think they have got something up their sleeve.”Craig added: “I’m excited about the 20th-anniversary episode as well.“I put something up about it on my Instagram story and Davina [McCall] and Rylan [Clark-Neal] direct messaged me straight away about the show.“I genuinely feel Big Brother was a turning point for TV and 20 years is such a long time.”Following this announcement, Craig has been super busy with interviews, whilst continuing to work on his new house.He said: “We’ve had a million and one jobs to do on our new house, which has been good and we’ve been sharing bits and pieces on Instagram and Facebook - helping people with their DIY around the house.”Craig has also spent a lot of time with his wife Laura and baby daughter.The couple welcomed their first child Nelly last year, but a heavy emphasis was placed on Craig becoming a dad at the age of 47 - but numbers don’t phase him.He said: “To be honest, I’m not bothered, I’m 48 now and I’m sitting strong.