[1][2] It was advertised by Channel 5 as being "The biggest reality show of all time" however in terms of ratings, it failed to deliver.

The ratings rarely went over 1.6 million despite the show extending its hours (early morning and afternoon live streaming).

Events included the threatened walk-out of the contestants after Nick Bateman was referred to as "Nasty Nick", the planned addition of Jade Goody's then boyfriend Jeff Brazier (from the reality TV show Shipwrecked) as a thirteenth contestant, Uri Geller walking out, the suspicion of Josie D'Arby being a mole (and the subsequent arguments and divides), the love interest between James Hewitt and Sarah Kozer, the rushing of Jade Goody to hospital and the "Ricardo Incident" when the flamboyant cross-dresser Rocardo Ribero argued with other housemates and then proceeded to destroy the kitchen.

The show ended when the public voted The Games star James Hewitt to be the winner with Maureen Rees coming second.

Goody's aggression towards Rik Waller in the series, though attracting little comment at the time, was later cited as evidence that she was a serial bully following her appearance in Celebrity Big Brother.