Dowling wins Big Brother as show finally bows out

A shocked-looking Dowling won the public vote, beating Nikki Grahame to the prize.

The former Ryanair steward was catapulted to fame after winning Big Brother 2 in 2001.

Dowling repeatedly yelled “Oh my God!” when his name was called and hugged Grahame.

“I love you. Well done,” she said before heading outside.

Grahame, who first entered the house in 2006 dressed as a Playboy bunny, was known for her tantrums.

In third place was Chantelle Houghton who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2006 despite being the only housemate who was not actually famous.

Grahame told McCall that taking part in Ultimate Big Brother “has meant the absolute world to me”.

“I’m so honoured to have been part of it. It still doesn’t feel real.”

Grahame said she tried to contain her stroppy side this time around.

“You have to consider the other housemates. I have had to bite my tongue lots of times but I kind of erupted inside. I have learned to do that. It’s taken four years.”

She said Dowling was “the most deserving winner”.

Grahame said Big Brother changed her life and she was “so grateful”.

Third-placed Houghton spoke of her feelings for ex-husband Preston when she left the house last night.

The Essex glamour girl, who took part in the 2006 celebrity show when she had to pretend to be a singer with fictional pop band Kandy Floss, met the Ordinary Boys singer in the house and romance blossomed. The couple married but split after 10 months and later divorced.

They remained friends and viewers were delighted to see them reunited in the house this summer, many hoping the pair would get back together.

But Houghton, who admitted she still had feelings for Preston, told McCall: “It’s a different outcome now. Obviously we’re not going to be together.”

She was often tearful in the house and said: “My head was a complete mess the whole time.

“It’s such a sad situation. I don’t think I realised how sad it was until I spent so much time with him.

“I hadn’t ever really got over what happened between us.”

The show marked the final parting of the ways for Big Brother as it finally said said goodbye to Channel 4 last night after 10 years.

Host Davina McCall, who was fighting back tears as the show began, refused to look sombre when she faced the cameras and crowds of fans, shedding her usual black outfits for a strapless sequinned red dress.