13 October 2023 , 17:11
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Almost 23 years ago, the nation was captivated by the first-ever series of Big Brother, and Melanie Hill was one of the standout contestants. A 26-year-old computer system salesperson from North London, Melanie battled it out with 10 other hopefuls for the chance to win the £70,000 cash prize.
The series was a huge success, with millions tuning in night after night to see what the housemates had been up to. But while some of the original contestants have continued to keep themselves in the limelight, Mel has stepped away from the showbiz life. So where is Melanie Hill now?
Melanie made it to the final four of the series, which saw her compete against the likes of Darren Ramsay, Anna Nolan and eventual winner, Craig Phillips. However, not everyone enjoyed her presence on the show. In a recent interview with the Evening Standard, former reality TV contestant Melanie revealed that she had no idea she would be perceived as the most hated woman in Britain following her appearance on the show.
Melanie was forced to leave the show just a week before the final. (Press Association)
Mel found herself at the centre of a scandal when she was caught kissing two of her co-stars Andy and Tom (Tony Kyriacou/REX/Shutterstock)Mel found herself at the centre of a scandal when she was caught kissing not one, but two of her co-stars - Andy and Tom. What followed was a vicious attack by some cruel viewers who went to extreme lengths to have her kicked out of the house. They even created fake emails, promising a dream holiday to anyone who called a certain number, only to be redirected to Mel's eviction hotline.
Unfortunately for the star, her fate was sealed when she was nominated alongside Darren and Craig just before the final. In a record-breaking eviction, Mel was shown the door after receiving a whopping 2 million votes from the audience who voted to evict. She was forced to leave the show just a week before the final.
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She expressed her disappointment with the show's editing, particularly the repeated shots of her bottom in various outfits and situations. She also mentioned her surprise at the producers' decision to show her "tidying her bikini line". Hitting out at the show in 2002, she said: "Over and over again was the sight of my bottom - in a bikini, in knickers, being squeezed into a pair of shorts, in the shower - or of me kissing all the boys."
"No wonder women everywhere loathed me and men thought I was easy. I had been portrayed as a total flirt, someone who was completely self-obsessed, a bit of a shameless hussy." She also spoke about the need for more diversity in the industry. "It's all about having conversations," she told the Metro. "Those little minor incidents you dismiss, actually, they're important. And actually, we need to talk about them."
Mel has expressed her disappointment with the show's editing, particularly the repeated shots of her bottom (Melanie Hill/Instagram)Melanie went on to dabble in TV presenting after exiting the reality show. She hosted E4's dating show "Chained," in which one person was chained to five potential partners and had to eliminate one each episode until they found their chosen romantic match.
Meanwhile, she had also been involved in a heated custody battle with her ex-boyfriend Alex Silbey, from the third series of Big Brother 2. It was a whirlwind romance that lasted three years, but it all came crashing down for the couple. The pair moved in together in 2003, but things quickly turned sour and they went their separate ways.
However, their split wasn't without drama. The couple found themselves embroiled in a custody battle over their beloved pet rescue dog, Poppy. The legal fees reportedly reached a staggering £25,000 as they fought tooth and nail to determine who should have custody of the Staffordshire bull terrier. In the end, a judge ruled in favour of Alex, awarding him custody of Poppy for two weeks out of every five.
Mel had been involved in a heated custody battle over her rescue dog Poppy with her ex-boyfriend Alex Silbey (PA)
Mel and Alex Silbey dated for three years. (PA)But Melanie is now living her best life away from the spotlight, focusing on family and eco-living. According to Melanie's Instagram bio, she is now a proud mother of four children and two dogs, living in London, on a zero-waste journey, and addicted to vintage. The reality star tries to use her platform to shine a spotlight on social injustice and has campaigned for greater racial equality on TV.
In a Metro interview in 2020, Mel speculated that her portrayal as a sexual flirt had something to do with her race. She said: “It was very telling that was the angle they were pursuing. If I’d been white or male, I don’t think that would have happened.” She added that change is necessary, arguing: “It’s all about having conversations. Those little minor incidents you dismiss, actually, they’re important. And actually, we need to talk about them.” Melanie continues to show her love for second-hand fashion finds is evident in her posts, but it's her photos with her partner Glenn Notton that truly show her zest for life.
Big Brother continues tonight on ITV at 9pm.