Big Brother fans were sent into overdrive this week when ITV confirmed the series would be coming back in 2023.
The news was confirmed with a special teaser during an ad break in the Love Island final with ITV bosses confirming the show will air on ITV2 and ITVX from next year.
Inconic voiceover Marcus Bentley and Darlington’s Anthony Hutton who won the show in 2005 were among those celebrating the show’s return.
Read more: Darlington Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton makes plea on This Morning
The series, which ran on Channel 4 between 2000 and 2010, and Channel 5 between 2011 and 2018 threw total unknowns into the spotlight.
But Bentley and Hutton where by no means the only North East stars to come to fame on the show.
We’ve taken a look back at some of the North East’s Big Brother stars ahead of the series returning next year.
Anthony Hutton
The most famous North Eastern Big Brother star is undoubtedly series 6 winner Anthony Hutton.
The Consett-born lad, who now owns a barbers in Darlington, reacted to the news of the show’s return in an interview on ITV’s This Morning saying he was “over the moon”.
He also revealed just last month that he is opening his first academy for trainee barbers.
Jay McKray
Jay, from Newcastle, appeared on the first series of Big Brother shown on Channel 5.
He found love on the show with fellow housemate Louise Cliffe and married her a year later, but they split less than 12 months later.
Jonny Regan
Former firefighter Jonny from County Durham appeared on series three of the hit show and came second place, losing out to Kate Lawler. He started alongside Jade Goody and Alison Hammond on the series.
Liam McGough
Liam shot into the limelight in 2007 on the eighth series of Big Brother. The tree surgeon bagged £100,000 when he finished in third place on the show, winning a bonus prize.
Last month The Sun reported that Liam was ‘secretly dating’ Inbetweeners star Emily Atack after the pair were spotted out together in London.
Alex Lee
Alex starred in series 12 of Big Brother, coming third behind fellow Northerner Jay McKray.
Charlie Drummond
The former Job Centre worker came in fourth place, being evicted right before the final.
He faced a rocky few years after leaving the iconic house, being sent to prison for 21 months in 2014 after a jury convicted him of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Michelle Bass
Michelle, from Dinnington, appeared on series five of Big Brother and later appeared on Ultimate Big Brother in 2010.
Zoe Birkett
Consett born Zoe Birkett appeared on the 2014 series of Big Brother, on Channel 5.
The TV star was no stranger to reality TV, having previously finished in fourth place on the first series of Pop Idol.
She is currently starring in Moulin Rouge on the West End as Arabia and previously played Rachel Marron in the stage version of The Bodyguard.
Lewis Flanagan
Lewis appeared on the nineteenth and final series of Big Brother on Channel 5. He was ejected from the house, being kicked out for the use of “offensive language”.
The Stockton born bartender left the show in eight place and has kept a relatively low profile since despite being verified on Instagram.
Simone Reed
Teessider Simone Reed appeared on the penultimate series of the show in 2017. She also appeared on the X Factor the same year.
In 2018 Reed was handed a 12 month community order and ordered to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to evading duty on cigarettes she was selling over Facebook.
Jennifer Clark
Jennifer starred on the 2008 series of the show and formed a relationship with fellow housemate Dale Underwood.
After leaving the show the couple split and Clark modelled topless in now-defunct Nuts magazine.
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