Luke Marsden column: I forgot about my Big Brother anniversary!

Things have been so busy lately that I forgot a very important milestone that occurred a few weeks ago. I forgot to celebrate 16 years since the launch night of my series of Big Brother.

With the looming general election and the few days of summer we’ve had, it slipped my mind to celebrate the launch night of the best summer of my life. On that fateful night in early June 2008, I was bundled in the back of a transit van at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, blindfolded and soundproof ear muffs placed on me. I’d been placed in a holding room for 12 hours before this, with only MJ’s ‘Thriller’ album on repeat. The social experiment had already begun before I stepped foot in Britain’s most famous house.

The next I heard was the roaring crowd and Davina McCall introducing me as I started the walk into the Big Brother house. I had no idea what was in store for me and little did I know that the events of summer 2008 would literally change my life forever. I probably wouldn’t be writing this very column now if I hadn’t done a stint in the Big Brother 9 house.

I’m still asked about things I said and did during my time on the greatest reality TV show, especially now the show is back reincarnated for 2024 on ITV. The world is a very different place 16 years later, biological gender is now debatable, electric cars are a thing, people meet people online to find love. Perhaps if I were given a choice I’d go back and relive the best moments of that summer. Before I entered the house a producer gave me this advice “you won’t ever be more famous than you will be sat inside that house, biting your nails or eating some soup” and he was totally correct (although I wish I’d bitten my nails less on national TV!)

Auditions are open for this autumn’s ITV version of BB and my advice remains the same as it has the last 16 years, if you want an unforgettable summer, apply but if you think you’re going to be the next Jade Goody, keep your day job!