Alex Reid crowned winner... but will Celebrity Big Brother return to screens?
By Emily Sheridan
Last updated at 3:10 PM on 30th January 2010
Katie Price's boyfriend Alex Reid has been crowned the winner of Celebrity Big Brother, after securing 65.9 per cent of the public vote.
His victory last night came alongside a resurgence in the popularity of the show, which is in its final series.
It has proved an unexpected critical and ratings success for Channel 4, leading to speculation another channel may now commission the series.
The rights to the format are owned by Endemol, whose £180million three-year deal with Channel 4 expires this year.
Bosses at the channel have stuck by their decision to axe their once flagship reality show, saying they had 'no regrets'.
Triumph: Alex Reid celebrates after being crowned Celebrity Big Brother winner Sky and UKTV have already ruled themselves out of taking on the show, but Channel Five's controller Richard Woolfe said: 'Of course we'd be interested.' Last night fireworks marked the last episode, as Reid emerged triumphant from the house. The 34-year-old was followed by former boy band singer Dane Bowers, 30, in second place with 34 per cent and footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones, 45, in third.
Defending his woman: Alex asked the crowd to stop booing the 'woman he loved' when Katie Price was mentioned
Reunited: Katie Price joined Alex on Celebrity Big Brother's Big Mouth
The final was completed with actress Stephanie Beacham in fifth and Swedish DJ Jonas Altberg, aka Basshunter, in fourth.
The closely-fought final featured men from both the past and present lovers of Katie Price - Alex has been dating the glamour model since July, while Dane had a two year relationship with her in the early Noughties.
After host Davina McCall brought up his girlfriend, the crowd's cheers quickly changed to boos.
Alex said: 'Come on guys, don't do that. I'm sorry guys... I'm not sorry, I really love Katie Price.'
Katie's cagefighter boyfriend's win was a surprising turnaround after he was booed going into the house four weeks ago.
Clearly stunned by his win, Alex said: 'I'm very overwhelmed. What an amazing, fantastic start to a new year.
'Vinnie has been very inspirational to me. He's transitioned from athletic to actor, which is what I want to do.
'I'm not getting booed now. That's amazing... I'm speechless. My whole agenda in here was to be myself.'
Unlikely friends: Alex and runner-up Dane Bowers bonded in the house, despite initial awkwardness
Alex admitted he has grown close to Dane in the house - despite their awkward link by having dated the same woman.
He explained: 'I was surprised by what a cool dude he is. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of Dane.'
Dane was equally enthusiastic about Alex, despite their alleged clash at Katie's New Year's Eve party before going into the house.
Fellas in the final: Dane (left) and Vinnie Jones are evicted The ex-Another Level frontman said: 'I'm very, very happy that Alex won. The best line I've ever heard about him is he's a lovable prat. He's his own man. He's a gentleman. 'The first week I thought he's a Doris. But he's OK. He's a good lad.' More... Ronnie Wood goes back to rehab for the EIGHTH time
When he went into the house, Dane admitted he 'wasn't really famous any more' and had lost his confidence.
But as the weeks went by, he began to feel comfortable and impressed the housemates with his cooking skills.
First out: Stephanie Beacham (left) and Jonas Altberg were in fifth and fourth place respectively in this year's Celebrity Big Brother final
He said: ''Thanks to the housemates cos it did make me feel a bit better.
'I think it boosted my confidence. I'm itching to work now.'
Meanwhile, Vinnie boasted how he had taught the winner 'everything he knows' and hoped he found success out of the shadow of his famous girlfriend.
He said: 'I really feel for the fellow because he got the biggest boos going in and hopefully he will get the biggest cheers going out.
'I gave him a lot of banter. I've taught him everything I know so hopefully he will win his next fight and hopefully you lot will go and watch him.'
The gang's all here: Alex joins his fellow housemates on the steps of the Big Brother house
Celebrate: Fireworks toasted Alex's win
He also insisted he had forgiven rapper Sisqo for their clash after Vinnie overheard the R&B singer complaining the Big Brother house had become 'Vinnie's playhouse'.
Vinnie said: 'Sisqo had one or two beers too many that night and I forgive him immensely.
'Sisqo is my man, he was the only man in the place who made me cry with laughter. He did mean it at the time but if he kept cooler he could have gone all the way.'
Speaking to Davina, former Dynasty star Beacham, 62, re-iterated previous comments that the experience had been like a holiday for her.
She said: 'I've had a completely blissful time. It's been wonderful.'
Loved up: Alex declared his feelings for girlfriend Katie
Aged: Vinnie told host Davina McCall he believed he had grown older in the house
Recalling spending the past two days in a house full of men: 'They've just treated me like one of the gang. I've been doing a little bit of boxing.'
Why she thought it was a holiday: 'There's no telephone and I had to give up control and that's something I find extraordinary...It was heaven.'
Describing her friendship with Ivana Trump: 'We're elegant women of a certain age. We got up at six o'clock every morning.'
Admitted she was upset by receiving the bitchiest housemate trophy: 'I came in here to show everyone I was a silly person and not a big bitch.'
'Too late Baby': Jonas dismissed any future romance with Katia after she was reported to have said she wants him back
She also described her good friendships with Vinnie and Nicola T.
She said: 'Without Vinnie, there would have been no order. Dad was needed.
'Nic and I had a lovely time. She likes bows and girlie things.'
The Swedish DJ admitted the experience was a rollercoaster for him and said 'I've never laughed so much in my life'.
When asked about his romance with Katia Ivanova, he said: 'Let's just say that I'm over it. There's a lot of beautiful girls out there. I'm going to party tonight, who wants to come with me?
'I'm completely over it. It's hard to know if it's love or not especially being caught up in the house. It felt more intense in there. But I'm over it now. I'm OK.
Where's Heidi?: Former housemates Katia, Sov, Stephen, Sisqo, Ivana and Nicola T outside
'But I did touch "bass" and I did do some hunting.'
When shown a newspaper headline about Katia declaring she loved Jonas, he said: 'Too late baby!'
He refused to apologise for his frequent flatulence in the house, which disgusted some of the more mature housemates: 'I'm 25, I'm from Sweden and I love farts.'
Earlier in the show, the five housemates were seen enjoying their 'last supper' to the sounds of Frank Sinatra's My Way.
Each housemate took time to reflect on their few weeks in the Big Brother house and what they had learned.
Back for the final: Page 3 girl Nicola T (left) and Katia Ivanova
Urban duo: R&B singer Sisqo (left) and rapper Lady Sovereign
Alex said: 'This has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I came in here with a lot of misconceptions in the press about me.
'I was quite naive. But have listened to things you (Vinnie and Stephanie) and Stephen have told me and I've taken on board things you've said to me.'
Jonas added: I've grown a lot in this house and learnt a lot of lessons.
Hardman Vinnie admitted he was amazed he was in the final: 'I thought I was gonna be gone after a week. It's been a wonderful experience and it's one we'll look back on.'
Stephanie explained: 'Never been teased so much since I was 10. I laughed like a child, I felt like a child. You've been like teasing brothers.
'I think of the woman who walked in as a very stuck up cow rather than the very shambley figure that's going to walk out.'
Emotional: Dane and Stephanie during the 'last supper'
Mixed martial arts fighter Alex Reid, nicknamed "The Reidenator", has been voted the winner of UK Celebrity Big Brother 2010. He won what is the last series of the programme in the final on Friday night, having received 65.9% of the votes from the public.

Musician Dane Bowers finished in second place, while Vinnie Jones, a former British soccer player and now a film actor, came in third place. After his departure from the Big Brother house, he commented about Alex: "I taught him everything I know." Vinnie had become unpopular with fans as he was said to have been bossy to other celebrities inside the house. Speaking to presenter Davina McCall, he stated: "I was just trying to keep order in the house because a lot of people were selfish. I was just trying to keep some stability in the house."

Musician Jonas Altberg, better known by his stage name Basshunter, finished in fourth place. Actress Stephanie Beacham left the Big Brother house in fifth place.

Alex Reid has been the girlfriend to former glamour model Katie Price since July 2009. Fellow housemate Dane has also previously been Katie's boyfriend. When Davina McCall mentioned Price during the interview with Alex, the crowd gave out a negative reaction of booing. In response, he said: "Come on guys, don't do that. I'm sorry guys... I'm not sorry, I really love Katie Price."

During the interview with Davina McCall, Alex commented about his victory. He said: "What an amazing, fantastic start to a new year. Vinnie has been very inspirational to me. He's transitioned from athletic to actor, which is what I want to do. I'm not getting booed now. That's amazing... I'm speechless. My whole agenda in here was to be myself." Alex also spoke of contestant Dane. "I was surprised by what a cool dude he is. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of Dane," Alex said.