[1] He is trained as a bricklayer, and has appeared in numerous television series related to building since winning Big Brother.

At 18, Phillips secured a day release bricklayers apprenticeship whilst employed with Wrekin Council's construction department.

In the 1990s, he presented Renovation Street with Linda Robson for Carlton ITV before being brought in as the DIY expert for the BBC on an exclusive contract in 2001.

After leaving Big Brother as the first winner, Phillips announced he was giving his £70,000 prize fund to his friend Joanne Harris, who had Down syndrome, to pay for her heart and lung transplant.

He had begun raising money with friends for Harris sometime before entering Big Brother, raising only small amounts of money towards the £250,000 needed for her operation, but within 6 days of winning, he achieved the target required for her life saving operation thanks to public support and donations from celebrities.

[citation needed] In June 2020, he made a guest appearance on Big Brothers's Best Shows on E4, where he talked about watching his series back.

[7] Since 2018, Phillips has worked as a presenter for his own YouTube channel Mr and Mrs DIY, covering a variety of essential home and garden maintenance jobs through easy-to-follow online tutorials.

[8] In 2018, Phillips married Laura Sherriff at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire, after the couple had dated for two years.