Who is Joe Quaranta? Big Brother 2017 housemate and London nightclub owner who was evicted
JOE Quaranta became the fifth housemate to be evicted from the Big Brother house in 2017.
So who is the 56-year-old from South London made Emma Willis blush when he complimented her eyes during his post-eviction interview. Here's what we know about him...
Who is Joe Quaranta?
Party animal Joe Quaranta, 55, left school at the tender age of just 14, and owns a nightclub.
He has Italian heritage, and grew up with a large family in South London.
Apparently Joe lives a glamorous lifestyle and travels the world experiencing the finer things in life.
But while he was up for some fun in the house, it didn't extend to womanising – he's settled down with a girlfriend 26 years his junior.
Before the launch, Joe said: "I want to do Big Brother to show that the oldies can do well too – bring it on!"
It has since been revealed that he has previously appeared on Tenerife Uncovered in 1999 - and his dark complexion landed him with the name Mahogany Joe.
Joe struggled with the lack of sleep during his stint in the house, and admitted that the age gap between him and his fellow contestants affected him.
When is Big Brother on Channel 5?
On weeknights, the reality show generally airs at 10pm, lasting for an hour, with spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side following straight after.
However, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the fun kicks off at 9pm, with the live eviction shows airing on Friday nights.
Big Brother typically lasts around two months, with last year’s series the shortest in the show's history, lasting just 50 days.
This year's show is expected to run for about the same length of time, though nothing is set in stone yet.
Who is presenting Big Brother 18?
Emma Willis has returned to host the 18th series of Big Brother, having begun her stint on the show back in 2013.
The outrageous Rylan Clark-Neal is continuing at the helm of popular spin-off show Big Brother’s Bit on the Side for all the gossip from the house.
Where is the Big Brother house and what does it look like?
The Big Brother house is in the Elstree studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire just a 22 minute train journey from London Kings Cross Station.
This year, the house’s theme has been inspired by the General Election and Brexit.
Big Brother 18’s official title is The United Kingdom of Big Brother, and the house has been given a kitsch makeover, with rooms inspired by various aspects of British culture.
A devilish twist sees housemates forced to live and sleep in separate spheres in the house, in keeping with the series’ class-oriented theme, The United Kingdom of Big Brother.
Those sleeping in the grotty bedroom have to deal with graffiti on the walls and furnishings, rickety wooden bed frames, a dirty carpet, old hand-me-down bedding and minimal storage.
Meanwhile the luxury bedroom is the definition of cosy, with beautiful turquoise walls, animal imagery, pristine bedding and a homey atmosphere.
How long has Big Brother been running?
The Big Brother reality TV concept originated in the Netherlands, with the first series airing in 1997.
Following its success, the show came to the UK in 2000, with Craig Phillips the British version's first winner.
After 11 series on Channel 4, Big Brother moved to Channel 5 in 2011, where it has remained ever since.
The show has provided some of the most controversial moments in reality TV history, and catapulted the likes of Jade Goody, Nikki Grahame and Chanelle Hayes to fame.
MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ
