[Jack_]

ahhhh dream come true! So I went yesterday to one of the National Trust's tours around the house and studios and it was honestly one of the most surreal but amazing experiences I've ever had to have spent eight years watching this show and all summer watching this house and then to step inside it was...erm...odd to say the least. Really cool though!

On the tour we first went to the Bit On The Side studio which my God is TINY, I couldn't believe it I knew it'd be small but it was just strange, definitely want to be an audience member next year though

Then we headed for the camera runs which was probably one of the best bits of the afternoon to be honest, seeing the house from that perspective in contrast to actually being inside it gives you two totally different mindsets, looking in through the glass makes it really feel like a TV set and that you're just some voyeur looking in, and add that to the fact that Jack & Joe and Charlie were there to talk to people when they got into the house, seeing them through the mirrors knowing they couldn't see us made it feel like the show was still on or something, it must be so, so strange being a cameraman and watching the housemates every day.

After going round the house through the camera runs we entered the bedroom, and at this point I'm just like...wtf, it felt so strange being inside the place just two weeks ago I was watching people like Charlotte, Lauren and Carol, and then months ago the likes of Gina and Sallie. I don't really know how to describe it to be honest, it's a weird feeling because you feel like you know your way around and know about everything that's gone on in that room but yet being in it just seems so surreal

So then we went out into the garden which is amazing btw, the entire house looks so gorgeous in real life I was surprised, and I think I can understand how you could forget about the cameras because it just seems like a normal(ish) house. Again though just actually being there was weird. The tree house is awesome too btw <33 and the Safe House looked amazing (though whilst I was in there all I was thinking about was the Hazel/Daley night which just creeped me out)

Then we went into the main house and that really looks so good in real life as well, though it's really hot after a while because the studio lights just make it really stuffy. The twins and Charlie were in there and this just made the whole thing all the more weird cause I'm like in the house with people who I spent 10 weeks watching living in that house. Charlie is gorgeous in real life also, and Jack & Joe were like sat on the sofas chatting to everyone about stuff like Diary Room voices, eviction nights, what it was like when housemates left, what they're up to now etc etc and they're really friendly!

Each group of people on the tour got called to the Diary Room too cause we gave them our names before it started and I recognised the voice then we got to go up for a brief chat and some pictures which was even more strange but so good. Once we'd finished in there we went into the task room which had a load of props in from this year and then we went on to the reality gallery (which is surprisingly small, on BOTS it looks much bigger) and there we could see the woman talking to people in the DR. And that was it, seriously such a great experience and the guides were lovely and the whole thing was relaxed and really well planned, so much better than I expected!

Now for some pics (these were HQ but imgur is being a ****** so if I put the originals in this thread it'll stretch the page so bad, so these don't look the best quality)...

Spoiler:

Charlotte's pissy bed (you can see the drawings on the wall behind it still)





Charlie and one of the twins in the tree house





Safe House selfie





hi



















Saw these under the sink which I thought was strange





Was awesome sitting on Gina and Dexter's bench <333



This looks amazing in real life



















This is what the other side of the Diary Room looks like in case you wondered







With the King himself



wrong way round soz x





Gina's fake fan letter to Dexter, SO weird seeing this in person



so yeah, it doesn't really feel like I've been in there but it was such a good day the house is about the size I thought it'd be too but I think you would go insane in there literally with it just being those three rooms, it's still kinda made me want to be a housemate more though

[Firewire]

so jealous! looks amazing

[Vanessa]

Omg! That looks amazing! Glad you had a great time. Was Dexter there as well?

[RichardG]

Amazing I didn't go but it's still cool seeing these pictures to see the view of the house from the housemates perspective rather than through the cameras. It's really strange seeing the other side of the diary room too!!

[Mrluvaluva]

Sounds like a fantastic day. Great photos.

[MTVN]

Sounds amazing, didn't realise it would be such a like personal and extensive experience, thought they'd just cram as many people in the house as possible to have a quick look round for twenty minutes. Pretty cool that Charlie and the twins were there as well, didn't like Jack and Joe that much as housemates but thought on the LF that they always seemed quite friendly and switched on

[smudgie]

Fantastic photos, you look so at home.
You really must try to get in next year Jack.

[Samm]

So so so so jealous

[zakman440]

Sounds like you had a really great day Jack! Glad you had a good time.

[Withano]

Awesome

[Tregard]

Other side of the diary room looks very strange indeed, was expecting it to be the same colour at least.

[_Tom_]

I went to one of the ones on Friday but we had Jackie Travers there instead

[Black Dagger]

Amazing, loving your pictures, glad you had a nice time bby

[Kate!]

Well jel.

Fantastic experience, if I lived closer I'd have gone, would have been such a buzz.

[AnnieK]

Omg...that looks fab. I thought it would be full of people and you'd just get rushed round but it looks like it was quite a personal experience.

[Jake.]

Ah that's amazing! Glad you had a brilliant time

[BigBrotherfan4ever]

Sounds like you had a great day Jack, thanks for sharing your experience with us , you've got some great picture aswell.

[Marc]

Glad you posted this.

Why have they not given the housemates something to stare at?

[nathydg1]

Jack awesome photos buddy - feel exactly the same - my tour started at 3:30. What time was yours? Did anyone try any of the task costumes on in the task room? I tried on the dinosaur costume that Luke s wore for the museum task in bb13. Dunno if I was allowed but no one said not to they all just took photos and laughed. Charlie was so cute - my photo with her and the one of me in the diary room are my favs.

[Visage]

This is fantastic, thanks so much for sharing

[reece(:]

Awww what a nice experience, wish I could've gone.. even just to see Charlie!

[Sophiee]

cool photos, looks amazing in there .
one of my friends went and said charlie was lovely and chatty and really pretty in real life .

[Marsh.]

I always thought the other side of the diary room would be like a mirror or something until Michelle Bass took the camera into the garden in BB5. I see they nail it to the wall nowadays.

Brilliant photos. Were you given any souvenirs or anything? Probably a silly question.

[Josy]

Nice photos Jack, looks like you had a great time and it's good to see Charlie and the Twins being friendly with everyone.

[erinp5]

Cheers for the pics, glad you had a fab time .