Big Brother winner Pete Bennett has promised to take his bandmates with him to the top.

Pete, who won the hearts of the nation with his honesty and humour in the reality TV show, is to go on tour with his band Daddy Fantastic.

Lead singer Pete, known in the band as "The Daddy", and his fellow musicians Wobbly Bob, The Baron and Nimbus will cash in on his fame by playing live around the country. The band is also said to be at the centre of a £1 million bidding war by record companies.

Family and friends were invited to a party in London to celebrate Pete's win and say they cannot wait to have him back in Brighton.

Friend Mikey, 30, who has known Pete for five years and used to be Daddy Fantastic's resident werewolf, said: "We are very proud and think it's fantastic."

Until he went into Big Brother, Pete, who has Tourette's Syndrome, lived in supported housing in Hollingdean Road, Brighton. He has not yet been back but his mother is believed to have picked up some of his possessions.

Neighbour Stephen Paul Nye, 47, was proud to see Pete do so well. He said: "I've lived here nine years. He's been here about a year.

"I am glad he won but I hope it doesn't ruin him. Fame and fortune can bring a person down."

Tour dates are already set for Fabric and King's College in London on October 3, followed by Loughborough, Stockton, Sheffield and Leicester. There has not yet been a gig scheduled for Brighton.

Band manager Madam Pussycat said: "We're doing a whole UK tour for a month. The dates are on the website."

Shortly after winning the £100,000 prize, which he plans to spend on his mum Anne, Pete sent a special message to readers of The Argus and his supporters in Brighton and Hove.

He said: "Big up to everyone, big up all the freaks, come to Brighton and have a party!"

In the last week of the 93-day competition, Pete became closer to stroppy blonde Nikki Grahame. But outside the house he said he sees her as more of a friend than a romantic partner.

Asked about the prize money he said: "I'm going to give it to my mum. I did the show for her, for Tourette's awareness and my own health. I don't care about the money."

Following the death of a close friend in October 2004 Pete suffered severe depression and contemplated suicide.

Julian Brooker died in a tragic accident on a railway line near his home in Shaftesbury Place, Brighton.

The 23-year-old, known as Joolz, had been drinking with Pete and another friend when he was electrocuted by the live rail. Joolz' friends tried unsuccessfully to pull him away but were thrown off by the current.

Afterwards Pete became depressed and took drugs until Joolz then came to him in a dream and told him to go on Big Brother.

He said: "I had a premonition that I would win."