Actor Stephen Graham reveals he was mistaken for Shropshire's Big Brother winner Craig Phillips
Actor Stephen Graham has said he was once mistaken for the first winner of Big Brother, Shropshire's Craig Phillips.
The 49-year-old star of films such as Snatch and The Irishman said one of his supporting artists thought he was the Newport bricklayer turned TV personality Phillips.
Graham, who was also recently in the film Matilda and hit BBC show Peaky Blinders, recalled the story during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
He said: “One of the supporting artists – thought I was someone else and said, ‘You are doing really well for yourself.’
“And I thought she was being really kind. But then she said, ‘I never thought it would happen to you after Big Brother’ – she thought I was Craig (Phillips)!”
Craig, a builder from Liverpool who grew up in Newport, won the hearts of the nation when he emerged victorious in 2000, donating his £70,000 winnings to friend Joanne Harris, who had Down's syndrome and needed a heart and lung transplant.
On The Graham Norton Show, Stephen Graham also spoke about his recent show The Walk In, which chronicles the true story of how a neo-Nazi plot to kill an MP was foiled by anti-fascism campaign group Hope Hot Hate (HNH).
It centres on informant Robbie Mullen, his handler at HNH, Matthew Collins, played by Graham, and how the organisation infiltrated banned far-right group National Action (NA) and prevented a 2017 attack on Rosie Cooper.
Graham said: “It’s very close to my heart – it’s a very poignant and powerful drama that’s really relevant to what is happening today.
“It is a wonderful piece and what I really like is being part of something that puts a mirror up to society.
“I was a bit nervous at first about people’s reaction to it, but the way it has been received is phenomenal.”
When asked about his acclaimed 2021 film Boiling Point, the star said: “We made a tiny little film and never dreamed of the success it had – it was phenomenal.”
Graham was nominated for a best actor Bafta while the film got an additional three nominations for Outstanding British Film, Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, and Best Casting.
Big Brother star Phillips, 51, is now a celebrity builder and mental health speaker who makes videos as “Mr DIY” on YouTube.
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One on Friday at 10.40pm with guests Geena Davis, Stormzy, Stephen Graham and Motsi Mabuse.
