Aug 17 2005
icSurrey
BIG Brother addicts can finally go back to their lives after the hit reality show came to an end last week. Surprising front-runner Eugene Sully captured the nation with his quirky antics and friendly banter. News reporter Maheesha Kottegoda caught up with him
BIG BROTHER runner-up Eugene Sully has vowed to stay in the town with his modest windfall of £50,000.
The aspiring TV presenter gave up a job at the BBC to swap channels and sneek into the house's secret garden wearing nothing but a fig leaf.
And he soon won viewers' hearts with his genuine personality and sensitive nature.
Second place - behind dancer Anthony Hutton - was good enough for Eugene on Friday night, who left the Big Brother house to cheers from ruthless crowds who, minutes earlier, had vociferously booed off Makosi.
"I am pleased I came second. That way there were two winners in the end.
"Ant is nice. I like him and I am happy to get less attention so I will have more time to myself," Eugene said.
"I am up for TV presenting but I would prefer to be offered work rather than try to go and get it. There would have to be a scientific twist. My presenting heroes would have to be Carol Vorderman, Fred Dinage and Adam Hart-Davis."
Eugene pocketed half the show's prizemoney when faced with a diary room dilemma.
Big Brother called a house-mate to the diary room but, thinking they would be evicted, they were afraid to go in.
Eventually Eugene braved the call - and was told he could either take half the winnings and deprive the winner or refuse and take the moral high ground. He was not told whether he would be evicted if he took the money.
Eu took the cash. But, honesty taking over, shortly afterwards he burst into tears, racked with guilt.
And instead of splashing his £50,000 winnings on amassing more light bulbs for his collection or on more TVs to throw from cliff tops, he plans to use the cash to buy a bachelor pad.
He said: "I am going to stay in Crawley.
"I do not want to fritter my money away.
"A place of my own in Crawley is something I am seriously looking at, but I am going to think for a good while and check it all out.
"I was really worried I would embarrass myself because my mum's a councillor, but I think I've done a great job and I've plugged Crawley quite a bit."
But whether residents will shake his hand or throw tomatoes does not bother Pound Hill's popular radio engineer.
He said: "I think people will be pleased for me and I am glad it is putting the town on the map.
"Crawley people are very nice, especially in the old areas like Pound Hill where people like tending to their gardens and are always willing to chat."
As we spoke, Eugenes first priority was a cuppa and a bath, but then he promised to respond to all his fan mail, including the amorous letters.
He said the best place to take a date would be the Hillside Inn in Pound Hill or TGI Fridays.
"I am hoping to respond to the fans - there are quite a lot so I am going to have to set aside some time to reply."
The self-confessed 27-year-old virgin is eager to be reunited with friends from the Crawley Radio Club in Tilgate Park and confessed he has missed the town desperately.
"I used to love cycling. I would go down to Bewbush and pedal back through Ifield and then end up in Charlwood.
"I've got a new bike now so I can't wait to cycle through town.
"I miss the cinema. I used to go regularly to the UGC and I'm going to start using the leisure centre more to keep fit by swimming. I miss the town centre. I love to go shopping a lot."
