Monday, 20th February 2006
ManchesterEveningNews
Seb Ramsay
QUEUE: For BB chance.
THOUSANDS of Big Brother hopefuls flocked to Manchester this weekend for a chance to star in the smash-hit reality TV show.
Queuing from before dawn, wannabe house mates braved near-freezing temperatures in everything from hot pants and lycra to fur coats and sunglasses in a bid to meet hostess Davina McCall and become the next Makosi or Chantelle.
And, when the doors of New Century House opened at 9am, the five-deep line stretched all the way around the Miller Street side of the building and back down Dantzic Street towards Shude Hill and Withy Grove.
Once inside the building, the budding small-screen stars posed for a picture, filled out a form and were put through a series of filter auditions.
Competing for fewer than 15 places in the summer show, the final test was a one-minute pitch in a Big Brother-style Diary Room.
It was one of eight major audition days being held in major cities, but people from more isolated parts of the country get the chance to apply at a mobile studio called the Casting Coach.
Among those queuing for a shot at stardom was 19-year-old Lorna Philburn from Denton. The call- centre worker said she had been desperate to go on the show for years.
"I've been wanting to do it since I was 16 and I've watched every single one and I'm old enough now and I'm dying to get in," she said.
PICK ME: Says Linzi Cave.
"I won't have a game plan or anything when I get in there. I haven't been able to sleep the last few nights thinking what if I get in?
"I'm just going to be me when I get in there for the audition, I'm not going to start pretending and doing stupid things, I just want to be me."
Musician Robbie Glover, 27, from Leeds, also thought being himself would be the best bet.
"I'm just going to go in and be myself, act natural," he said.
"I've had a hit record and I've been in music videos with Matt Goss and Abi Titmuss so I've got a bit of a career behind me.
"Even if you don't get in, it's a day out and something to do."
Rapping painter and decorator Marcus Hinds, 23, from Leicester, said he wasn't thinking much about the fame but more about his skin.
He said: "I'm working as a painter and decorator with my brothers but it's boring, hard work and gives you dry hands and I like to have soft skin and nice manicured fingernails, so we'll have to see how it goes."
Bridget Shaw, 54, from Swinton, donned a pink wig and queued from 5am after being persuaded to go to Big Brother by her friend.
She said: "It was fabulous. The atmosphere was great. I'd never done anything like this before and I thought this was my chance.
"I got through to the diary room stage. I'm not bothered that I didn't get any further because the experience was so good."
* To hear interviews with more Big Brother wannabes go to
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
