Controversial Big Brother star looks unrecognisable as he shaves his head and joins a religious group in Australia six years after being kicked off show for ‘Auschwitz’ comments

Big Brother fans were left shocked after one of the series’ most controversial housemates returned to social media, looking a far cry from his appearance on the show.

Lewis Flanagan appeared on the show on back in 2018, the final series to air on Channel 5 before it was cancelled due to low ratings and relaunched on ITV2 in 2023.

The then-27-year-old bartender was in the house for 43 days in total and introduced himself as a lover of yoga, the gym and meditation and followed a primarily plant-based diet.

Ahead of joining the show, he said his main passion was self-growth and believed everyone should work on ‘becoming the ultimate version of themselves; physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.’

Speaking about why he wanted to go on Big Brother he said: ‘A friend sent me the audition form and I thought, I am quite an alone person, so it will force me into my weakest characteristics as a person – socializing and communication.

‘Not being able to walk away from situations I don’t want to be involved in. It will be really challenging for me.’

However, in the penultimate week, Lewis was suddenly removed from the house for making a comment about Auschwitz that wasn’t aired.

Big Brother made a statement at the time that said: ‘Lewis has been removed from the Big Brother House for unacceptable language that contravenes the rules. Lewis has left the House with immediate effect.’

He later admitted that he had been removed for mocking Adolf Hitler and saying ‘kill all Jews’ during a conversation with fellow contestant Cameron Cole.

In an interview with The Sun, Lewis insisted it was a ‘slip of the tongue’ comment and that he’s not ‘anti-Semitic’.

Speaking on his departure, he said: ‘I was talking to Cameron about getting him some outfits and I said the word ‘Auschwitz’ instead of outfits by mistake.

‘It was a slip of the tongue and and then I tried to mock Hitler and did an impression of him saying “Kill the Jews”.’

Asked whether there was anything he’d like to say, Lewis said he was ‘not ashamed’ of his behaviour, adding: ‘I would say I’m devastated. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, it was a slip of the tongue. 

‘I never once tried to offend anyone or hurt anyone’s feelings. It’s unacceptable. I’m not ashamed of myself because I didn’t try to offend anyone, it was just a slip of the tongue. 

‘Unfortunately for me my bad language and misuse of certain words has exploded in my face. I never meant to upset anyone, hurt anyone’s feelings or disrespect any kind of background, sexuality, race, gender or religion. So yeah, I’m sorry. Obviously I’m going to pay the price.’

‘I am not anti-Semitic, I am agnostic. I love all people’, he added, seemingly confused that agnostic means neither believing nor disbelieving in a god or religious doctrine.

The former contestant then took to Instagram Live to apologise to viewers for his offensive remarks as he revealed he has been on an ’emotional theme park’ since his shock exit. 

In a bid to further clarify his comments, he said: ‘It wasn’t malicious, there was no intent. I felt stupid for apologising for it in the diary room because it was a slip of tongue, but I am truly sorry.

‘I never used to care about what people think, in some ways, I still don’t. However, all my fans have been sending me support, so I care about what they think.

‘If you don’t like me for who I am, you’re getting the finger, but if I offend you then I’m sorry. I won’t repeat those words ever again.’

The Middlesborough native went on to reveal how his exit has affected his mental health: ‘I’ve been so lost, drinking loads, trying to get away from everyone. I’m not a bad person, I’m broken in many ways, but I’m trying to be a better person.’

He elaborated: ‘We’re all human, it doesn’t matter what skin you’re in or where you’re from, that doesn’t mean anything.

‘I went on to mock Hitler, slip of the tongue, it cost me, if you want to change your perception over me than you’re entitled to that.’

Insisting that he struck up a strong relationship with the Big Brother team, he said: ‘When I got removed, producers were devastated. They’ve been amazing.’  

‘I don’t run my issues, I spent years doing that, I can’t do that. There was a time I didn’t want to admit it, my family advised me not to, but I did say it.’  

Addressing his fans, he said: ‘Hi guys. Thank you for all the support…and anyone sending me hate…f**k you!

‘I’m taking some time to focus on myself. I lost out on facing a crowd, being interviewed and seeing my best bits all because of a stupid comment and a slip of a tongue and a stupid comment that I’ve made.’

The 19th series went on to be won by 19-year-old Cameron, with Akeem Griffiths finishing as runner-up. 

After his reality TV stint, Lewis kept a low profile on social media and eventually deleted his pages.

However, in November he rejoined Instagram, six years after he had shot to fame on Big Brother, and showed he had started a new life in Australia.

The star, who had talked a lot about his flexitarian diet and dislike of eating meat, has now switched to a carnivore diet, sharing lots of videos and snaps of him enjoying steak.

In January, he explained why he had switched from his vegetarian lifestyle, saying: ‘Currently running a carnivore experiment, so far all the data suggests that steak is the best health food on the planet and that no one ever made sex noises eating kale.. Because kale is BULL***T!!’

While Lewis has also undergone a dramatic physical transformation, cutting off his long hair for a shaved head look and swapping his beard and man-bun for a moustache.

Having moved to Brisbane, he shares a lot of glimpses into his passion for climbing and working out at the gym, displaying an impressively chiselled physique in a slew of shirtless snaps.

While after previously describing himself as agnostic, Lewis has joined a religious group, saying his life ‘changed forever’ after he met God.

At Christmas, he shared photos of himself being baptized in a paddling pool and gushed about an evangelical group called Awakening Australia. 

Opening up about his mental health last month, Lewis explained he had been suicidal a year ago and admitted into a psychiatric hospital, before having a spiritual awakening.

He wrote: ‘Before I was saved by god, I used to think christians were mad, believing in some guy in the sky because the bible said x y and z.. But no one ever mentioned the supernatural aspect of knowing god.. Once you encounter Jesus, once you see his face, hear his voice, feel his spirit, everything changes forever.’