To celebrate the return of the world’s most iconic reality TV show, Simon Hopper has dug into the Big Brother archives to find the most shocking moments in the history of the programme. What do you think of his selections?

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1. Big Brother Fix – ‘Nasty’ Nick Bateman, 2000

The original bad boy of reality television, ironically Bateman was actually the Big Brother favourite before his antics were exposed by a seething Craig Phillips. He tried to manipulate the voting process by passing notes around the house suggesting who should be evicted, which quickly aroused suspicion. Eventually he was confronted by all of the housemates, though the well-mannered nature of the conversation is a far cry from some of the more recent Big Brother controversy. Bateman became a household name when he was kicked out and was eventually asked to come back for Ultimate Big Brother in 2010, where he was dubbed ‘Not So Nasty Nick’ after seemingly reforming his ways.

2. Big Brother Racism – Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty, 2007

This was probably the single most famous event in Big Brother history. The British and Indian governments were forced to intervene as Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty was subjected to perceived racial abuse by several housemates, but principally Jade Goody. Protestors in India burnt effigies of the Big Brother top brass while Goody received death threats and was dropped from all of her commercial deals. She went head to head with Shetty in the next Big Brother eviction and lost, polling an astonishing 82% of all votes.

3. Big Brother Fight – Various Housemates, 2004

Affectionately dubbed ‘Fight Night’ by aficionados, the events of day 20 forced BB bosses to take the unprecedented step of suspending the show’s live feed for an hour. Housemates Victor and Emma issued death threats to each other as tables were overturned, food was thrown and vicious words were exchanged – and security guards were forced to intervene. Bookmakers were forced to rapidly re-price their Big Brother odds as news of the fight spread and it remains one of the most famous incidents in the show’s history.

4. Big Brother Sex – Makosi and Anthony, 2005

This was not the first Big Brother scandal related to intercourse but it is easily the most controversial. Housemates Makosi and Anthony get intimate in the pool in full view of the cameras, unlike Stuart and Michelle’s supposed soiree under the table 12 months earlier. The show faced a barrage of criticism for showing the scene, and matters were not helped by Makosi later asking for a pregnancy test!

5. Big Brother Controversy – Emily Parr, 2007

After the Big Brother racism incident earlier in the year, Channel 4 should have known they would face a backlash for airing a housemate using the ‘N’ word. Emily Parr used it in conversation with Charley Uchea (Kieroa Richardson’s cousin), though Big Brother caused further uproar when failing to reprimand Charley for using the same word twice on the same night, despite disqualifying Emily from the competition for the same offence.