Unpopular opinion: I couldn’t STAND Brian Dowling.
 

Okay so I’ve watched 50% of BB2. His presenting stint was dire, at least Chen-bot admits to her roboticness but Brian was very forced and just awful. I am re-watching UBB and cannot understand in the slightest HOW he won?!?! Thoughts?

Probably because he's a well-rounded housemate, level-headed, campy, funny, out of the drama and just so likeable.
In hindsight, in 2001 not that many gay people were on TV and a lot of viewers who had pre-conceived ideas about gay people, and I think he has shown such a good side to him that people may have changed their views (a little bit at least) about them. He was not a host, an artist, a singer, just him. That was big for 2001.
And he got 4,2 million votes I think in BB2. And almost 50% of the votes in UBB (though it was obvious from day 1 he would win).

Hahaha....

You missed the live feed where brian shone.

That's where his fans came from.

Best HM ever

He was of his time, probably wouldn’t win now as reality has moved on