Big Brother winner Jordan Sangha has opened up about the tumultuous romance he and his roommate Henry Southan have had, admitting he wishes it had been a showmanship.
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.
Jordan recalls that harrowing time, saying, “I just think it was the first relationship, and yeah, I’m glad it happened,” almost a year later. Looking back on his romance with Henry, he says, “Life is too short for regrets.”
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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.”
The ending shocked fans who adored watching their slow-burning chemistry unfold on screen. Jordan insists, however, that it was real and not some elaborate camera-equipment stunt. Oh my goodness, I yearn for a show! He laughs, “but no, it was definitely not.” There is a lot of love there, they say. You never know what the future holds, don’t you? There is a learning curve to everything.
Jordan acknowledges that accepting a tendency to prioritize others before himself was a part of that learning curve. I believe I came to the realization that I should probably be a little more egotistical. Which sounds bad, but I’ve always given others more importance. I’ve learned that I also need to take my own path.
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.”
Jordan’s dry wit, sharp one-liners, and refusal to play the game in a conventional manner were met with adulation from viewers despite his self-deprecation. He nods, “Maybe it was authenticity.” “I don’t have the wittiest thoughts. However, perhaps people liked me for who I am.
He claims that this authenticity was a natural outcome of his initial casting, as he never anticipated. Before entering the home, Jordan, a junior barrister, joked incessantly. As a joke, I literally filled out the application form. I responded with a question about TikTok, saying I can’t stand it. It’s a horrible, offensive app. You can profit from that, so I now have it.
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.”
However, fame has drawbacks. It was more difficult to read the hateful comments than the praise when I came out, which is quite odd, isn’t it? because I anticipated missing week one. I was surprised that I had received the call in the first place.
The grim fish guts challenge, in which he and Chanelle dunked their heads into barrels in exchange for crisps, is where Jordan recalls his proudest Big Brother moment. “I would say that because it just showed me that I can do anything with my best efforts.”
However, eviction nights were the hardest times. For a few hours on Friday nights, he claims, you’re just walking around on edge because they infuse a lot of fake crowd noise into the house. You are obedient to other people, even if you’re not up. They advised us to just treat it like a pantomime, but they still could be yelling “Get ___ out!” and you’re constantly asking, “Do they chant 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?”
After his successful career, Jordan may never be able to practice law again. “I don’t think I’ll be allowed to kiss you,” he said. He jokes that he is putting his experiences to writing and creating a sitcom as a result of his years of juggling his legal studies and working overnight at the supermarket. He claims that the idea of world divisions really interests him.
Jordan’s advice to future housemates is succinct as Big Brother celebrates its 25th anniversary. “Probably just get started,” she said. Get out and do it. Don’t try to be someone other than you are; people will see through that, especially in the modern social media era.
Would he host a second reality show? “Yes, if they asked,” I don’t want to jump out of a plane, but I do believe I can handle the snakes and spiders. That would never be possible for me. But I don’t care if I shove anything in my mouth. He exclaims grin. The headline should read “That.”
