Brian Dowling

Who is Brian Dowling?

Brian Patrick Robert Dowling is an Irish television presenter who rose to fame after being crowned the winner of the second series of UK reality television show Big Brother in 2001. He also won Ultimate Big Brother in 2010. In 2007, he came third in Hell's Kitchen and in 2008 he was runner-up in the Irish reality television series Fáilte Towers. Dowling guest-presented Live from Studio Five alongside Kate Walsh from 2010 until its cancellation in February 2011.

On 22 July 2011, it was confirmed that Dowling would become the new host of Big Brother upon its transfer to Channel 5, replacing Davina McCall. After presenting two editions of Big Brother and four editions of Celebrity Big Brother, Channel 5 confirmed on 2 April 2013 that Dowling was to be replaced by Emma Willis. Dowling exited the show with the finale of the eleventh series of Celebrity Big Brother on 25 January 2013.

Dowling became the first ever openly gay children's TV presenter in the United Kingdom when he began presenting SMTV Live in 2002.