EXCLUSIVE: Big Brother winner Jordan Sangha has opened up about his whirlwind romance with fellow housemate Henry Southan, admitting he wishes it were a showmance
When Jordan Sangha walked into the Big Brother house last autumn, few expected the softly spoken barrister from Scunthorpe to leave as the winner – least of all Jordan himself.
But over six intense weeks on ITV’s revived reality juggernaut, Jordan not only won over the nation but also captured headlines for his blossoming romance with fellow housemate Henry Southan. Their “platonic with kisses” relationship became one of the defining storylines of the series, captivating fans with its warmth, awkwardness and unexpected tenderness.
Now, nearly a year on, Jordan reflects on that whirlwind time, by saying: “I just think it was the first relationship, and yeah, I’m glad it happened. Life’s too short for regrets,” he says, looking back at his romance with Henry.
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While their bond didn’t last outside the confines of the house, Jordan is philosophical about their eventual split. “It’s just about reflecting on the positives and not drawing too much from the negatives,” he explains. “There’s a lot of love there.”
For fans who adored watching their slow-burn chemistry play out on screen, the ending came as a shock. But Jordan insists it was real – not some showmance engineered for cameras. “Oh, I wish it were a b****y showmance! But no, it was definitely not,” he laughs. “There’s a lot of love there. You never know what the future’s going to bring, do you? Everything’s a learning curve.”
That learning curve, Jordan admits, included recognising a tendency to put others before himself. “I think I learned that I should probably be a bit more selfish. Which sounds bad, but I’ve always been someone who prioritises others. Whereas I’ve learned I’ve got to go on my own path too.”
The romance with Henry may not have survived the transition from the surreal bubble of the Big Brother house to the glare of public life, but their connection was undeniable. The infamous hot tub kiss sealed the deal for many fans, though Jordan admits he was slow to recognise the spark himself. “For me, I’m quite slow when it comes to reading how people really feel. But it built up, and then one night it clicked—you’ve got the hot tub thing and, yeah. But I wish him all the best in life.”
While the romance was the heart of his storyline, Jordan’s unexpected popularity as a housemate propelled him to the £100,000 win. “I genuinely did not at all think I’d make it to the final,” he admits. “I thought I would be out week one. I thought everyone would have nominated me because I’m quite reserved. I don’t always want to go out there and say, ‘Oh hi, how are you?’ I can’t be a**ed. Honestly, I just can’t be bothered.”
Despite his self-deprecation, viewers responded to Jordan’s dry wit, sharp one-liners and refusal to play the game in a conventional way. “Maybe it was authenticity,” he shrugs. “I haven’t the foggiest. But maybe people liked me for who I am.”
That authenticity came naturally, he insists, because he never expected to get cast in the first place. A junior barrister before entering the house, Jordan applied half-jokingly after spotting an open call. “I literally filled out the application form as a joke. They asked me a question about TikTok too, and I said I cannot stand TikTok. It’s a hideous, odious app. But now I have it, because you can capitalise on that.”
Life after victory has been a dizzying adjustment. Jordan, who describes himself as introverted, suddenly found himself on red carpets and at showbiz events, including the premiere of Downton Abbey, the very series he credits with shaping his now-famous accent. “It was an absolute b***dy whirlwind, but no regrets,” he reflects. “I’m so happy that things have happened in the way they have happened. My life is totally different.”
Yet fame has its downsides. “When I came out, it was harder to read the hateful comments than the praise, which is quite strange, isn’t it? Because I thought I’d be out week one. I was surprised that I even got the phone call in the first place.”
Jordan recalls his proudest Big Brother moment as the grim fish guts challenge, when he and Chanelle dunked their heads into barrels in exchange for crisps. “I’d say that, because it just showed me I can do anything if I put my mind to it.”
The hardest moments, however, were eviction nights. “They put lots of fake crowd noise into the house and so for a few hours on Friday nights you’re just walking around on edge,” he says. “Even if you’re not up, you’re on edge for other people. They told us just treat it as a pantomime, but still, they can be chanting ‘Get ___ out!’ and you’re always thinking, are they chanting my name?”
Despite the pressures, Jordan never once considered quitting. “I think I was one of the only people who never asked to leave. I thought it’s a unique experience—why would I want to walk out of it?”
While Jordan may never return to law after his stint in the spotlight—“After that hot tub kiss, I don’t think I’ll be allowed!” he jokes—he is channelling his experiences into writing, developing a sitcom inspired by his years juggling legal studies with overnight supermarket shifts. “The divisions of worlds really interest me,” he says of the concept.
As Big Brother celebrates its 25th anniversary, Jordan’s advice to future housemates is blunt. “Probably just get on with it. Do the damn thing and get out. Don’t try and be someone you’re not, because people will see through that—especially now in this social media age.”
Would he do another reality show? “Yeah, if they asked. I think I could handle the spiders and snakes, but not jumping out of a plane. I’d never be able to do that. But I’ll shove anything in my mouth, I don’t care.” He grins. “That should be the headline.”
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