Well, he's finally been evicted. We heard rumours earlier this year that the Big Brother bosses wanted to replace our own Brian Dowling as host of the Channel 5 show, and now they've only gone and done it. Yep, our Brian's been given the heave ho, and the job's been handed to his former co-host, Emma Willis. You'll remember her as yer wan off MTV who married yer man from Busted.
"I am thrilled to have been offered this job," said Willis. "I’m a fan first and foremost so to be able to front the show is going to be amazing. Roll on the summer!" Emma's been hosting the show's companion, Big Brother's Bit On The Side, and rumour has it the bosses see her as the "natural successor" to Davina McCaul. We're not quite so sure about that one now, but sure we'll give her the benefit of the doubt. It'll be a while before she reaches that 'Big Muva' standard...
"Emma is a natural on screen, she’s made the spin off show her own and now the time is totally right for her to step up,” said Channel 5’s Director of Programmes Ben Frow. He's well known to us here on the Emerald Isle as TV3's former Director of Programming. He didn't forget Brian though, making sure to give a nod to the former host: "I’d like to thank Brian Dowling for doing such a sterling job over the last two years. He’s been a big part of the success of the show and I wish him the very best" Frow said.
Big Brother will return to Channel 5 this summer.