Davina McCall Clarifies Emma Willis And Rylan Interview Following Brian Dowling Criticism

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Davina McCall has spoken out again after former Big Brother contestant and host Brian Dowling claimed highlights series Best Shows Ever had tried to erase him from the show’s history.

Brian let his feelings known earlier this week when his tenure as host was not mentioned during a conversation between BB presenters Davina, Emma Willis and Rylan Clark-Neal. 

After one viewer noted the omission was strange, Brian tweeted: “You are not the only one. Actually at this stage it’s getting rather funny. People trying to rewrite history.”

Davina had responded at the time, explaining Brian’s presenting stint hadn’t been discussed as Best Shows Ever was focussing on the Channel 4 years of the reality show, and he had hosted on Channel 5. 

However, the interview has continued to be a topic of conversation on social media, with some people claiming Rylan suggested Emma had taken over from Davina, when in fact Brian presented in between the pair’s stints. 

Tweeting a clip from her and Rylan’s interview with Emma – who worked on Channel 4′s Big Brother’s Little Brother prior to the show’s move to Channel 5 – Davina tweeted: “This is what he [Rylan] said. He was referring to when she worked with me on C4. Clear as day. He never said she took over from me as host.”

Davina had also previously stated Brian had been invited to appear on Best Shows Ever, as they showcased an episode from his original series as a housemate in 2001. 

However, he later tweeted an “FYI” to Davina, writing: “I found out from The Sun newspaper that I was being fired and replaced, and it took the production company a further four weeks to confirm that, without a single thank you or apology, phone call, text or email or even a bunch of flowers or a single question asking how I was.

“My whole time on the show as a host was tainted by how I was treated and it still affects me today.”

He added: “The same production company asked me if I wanted to film a 10-second message on my phone saying hello to you and Rylan. Surprisingly, I didn’t really feel like doing that.”

Brian won the second series of Big Brother in 2001, later triumphing in the all-stars series Ultimate Big Brother in 2010.

He then hosted two regular series and four celebrity series of the reality show when it made the jump to Channel 5 in 2011.

He was replaced by Emma in 2014, with Rylan then taking the helm of spin-off Bit On The Side, which he originally co-hosted with AJ Odudu for one series.