David Potts crowned winner of Celebrity Big Brother

Reality TV star David Potts has been crowned the champion of the first Celebrity Big Brother for six years.

Potts, 30, who rose to fame as a holiday rep on ITV2’s Ibiza Weekender, beat fellow finalists Louis Walsh, Fern Briton, Nikita Kuzmin and Colson Smith.

The show was resurrected by ITV after being axed by Channel 5 in 2018, and has attracted about 2.8 million viewers per episode.

Twelve contestants entered the Big Brother house almost three weeks ago.

During the final show, the five remaining housemates sat down for a dinner in the living room and reflected on their experiences.

Potts thanked everyone for “letting me be me” and added: “I genuinely did not think I would be in a house with 12 people who I actually genuinely really, really liked.”

Potts was previously also known for appearing on shows including Celebs on the Farm, Celebrity Karaoke Club and Celebrity Ghost Trip.

Meanwhile, Walsh said he’d had the time of his life in the house.

“I was a bit wacky, a bit funny and had an opinion on everybody. I will never forget it,” he said.

During the series, the former X Factor judge did not shy away from sharing his opinion on fellow celebrities.

Last week, he branded Irish pop singers Jedward “vile”, which prompted a social media backlash.

The twins, who were mentored by Walsh on the talent show in 2009, called his comments “spiteful and disrespectful”.

Along with fellow former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, he also laid into actor and presenter James Corden, Vogue magazine’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and TV host Ellen DeGeneres, among other celebrities.

Walsh also revealed to housemates that he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer during the pandemic, but that he’s now “fine”.

Osbourne, 71, was referred to as a “celebrity lodger” by ITV and left the show after eight days.

The other contestants included the Princess of Wales’ uncle Gary Goldsmith, Heartstopper actor Bradley Riches and ex-Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.