Nick Bateman, known as 'Nasty Nick' from the first series of Big Brother, has declared that housemates must accept they are 'puppets' on the show. The 57-year-old, who was removed from the programme in 2000 after manipulating nominations, reflected on his infamous confrontation with eventual winner Craig Phillips.
Speaking on behalf of Heart Bingo, Bateman said: 'Reality TV is entertainment, and it's manufactured. That confrontation was a perfect storm after the contestants had been tipped off and gone through all my belongings.' He added that producers are 'gods' and contestants are 'puppets', advising: 'If you can't accept that, don't do it.'
Bateman, who originally entered the house as a broker, did not receive a single nomination during his stint. However, producers alerted other housemates to his rule-breaking, leading to a showdown on day 34. Despite the controversy, he insists he 'didn't do anything that bad' and wishes he had said: 'Come on, guys, it's a game.'
After Big Brother, Bateman wrote a book and returned for Ultimate Big Brother in 2011. He then moved to Australia in 2013, where he works in marketing and gained citizenship in 2022. Now going by his real name, Jack, he enjoys not being recognised, telling The Telegraph last year: 'It's nice to be a ghost.'
The nickname 'Nasty' never bothered him, as he argued it is 'better to have a nickname than no nickname'. Commenting on the ITV reboot, he stressed the importance of casting, saying: 'It's about the characters on the show. If they get the casting right, they can make it a success.'
