Big Brother: What are Wales' contestants doing now?
- Published
Glyn Wise greets the crowds as he leaves the Big Brother house
Reality TV show Big Brother is returning to our screens after an absence of five years.
It was axed by Channel 4 and Channel 5, but will now be shown on ITV.
The show launched the careers of This Morning's Alison Hammond and former Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts.
Over the 19 series, there have been 16 contestants from Wales, and three winners, with Welsh spoken in the Big Brother house by two of these - but what are they doing now?
Glyn Wise
Glyn Wise, 35, from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, came second in Big Brother 7 in 2006.
"I'm cooking an egg for the very first time" became one of his catchphrases on screens.
However, he and fellow housemate Imogen Thomas were banned from speaking to each other in Welsh.
It led to criticism of Channel 4 which then aired their conversations with subtitles.
Since leaving the house he has worked as a radio presenter, a teacher and stood in a Senedd election.
He is now training to be a priest in the Church in Wales.
"I can do a pretty good Sunday roast now," he also said of his time in the Big Brother house.
"They were special, unforgettable days because of the broad range of experiences I've had as a result of that show and I loved every minute.
"I was doing my A-levels at Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy at the time and went to the audition where there were thousands of people and thought I'd give it my best shot.
"I went into the house in my lifeguard shorts to boos from the crowd and came out to meet Davina McCall and then going to premieres with Michael Douglas thinking 'What an earth's going on?'
"It was like there were two different Glyns from the Glyn who went in and the Glyn who came out."
Imogen Thomas and Glyn Wise (second and third left) at a party following the UK premiere of film You, Me & Dupree in 2006
He isn't sure the rebooted version will be a success because the way viewers consume television has changed in the age of streaming.
"I think it'll be like when Gladiators was brought back by Sky. No-one watched it," he said, adding: "Sion a Sian came back to S4C and no-one watched that.
"The TV landscape is so different and people don't watch programmes like they used to.
"Big Brother's success was you went home and at 9 o'clock, we all watched it, but you can watch what you want, when you want on the streaming services.
"I think ITV are trying to get people back watching TV. I don't know if it'll work, but it did with Love Island, so Big Brother might do too."
Glyn waved the Wales flag as he left the Big Brother house
Lateysha Grace
Lateysha Grace, 30, from Port Talbot, finished 11th in Series 17 in 2016.
Big Brother wasn't her first taste of reality TV fame, having starred in MTV's The Valleys between 2012 and 2014 and MTV's Celebrity Ex on the Beach.
She has 272,000 followers on TikTok, external.
"It was career-changing for me and anyone that gets to do the new series is so lucky," she said.
"I'd done The Valleys, but Big Brother was different, because it wasn't heavily produced, you got to be yourself and forgot the cameras were on you.
"It was unfiltered and unscripted and you never pretended to be someone else," she said.
Lateysha Grace starred in MTV's The Valleys before appearing in Big Brother
She now works for MTV as a casting producer.
"It feels so surreal to be working behind the camera, it's always been a dream of mine to be a TV producer one day."
She hopes the new series will return to its roots.
"Big Brother can make you or break you depending on your personality," she said, adding: "I hope it's normal people from normal places, not just people who are fame hungry."
"I'm really looking forward to watching it."
Rachel Rice
Rachel Rice was the first Welsh winner in 2008
Rachel Rice, 39, from Pontypool, was the first Welsh winner of Big Brother after spending 93 days in the house in 2008.
She is head of drama at Abersychan School in Torfaen.
Helen Adams
Helen was known for some of her sayings
Helen Adams, 45, from Cwmbran appeared on the second series of Big Brother in 2001.
She was runner-up to Irish flight attendant, Brian Dowling.
The hairdresser, who worked at Classy Cutz in Newport, became known for her "Helenisms", including "I love blinking, I do".
Helen and fellow BB contestant Paul Clarke were in a relationship for five years but split in 2004.
In 2008 she appeared as herself in Charlie Brooker's zombie-horror mini-series Dead Set on E4.
Luke Anderson
Luke Anderson, 41, from Mynydd Isa, Flintshire, won the 13th series, on Channel 5.
The development chef was the second transgender contestant to win the show, the first being Nadia Almada.
Luke won half the £100,000 prize, after a twist which saw the other half being given to another contestant.
Sam Evans
Sam Evans won "Big Brother 14" in 2013
In 2013, Series 14 was won by Sam Evans, 33, from Llanelli.
Joel Williams
Joel Williams is now a conservative councillor
Series 16 saw Joel Williams, from Cardiff, come second.
He studied law at Cardiff University and works as an employment specialist and workplace investigator.
He is also a Conservative councillor and represents Pontprennau and Old St Mellons on Cardiff council.
On his website he lists his interests as "spending time with family and friends, playing racket sports and climbing mountains".
The show returns to ITV on Sunday.
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