Press selection - Day 2 [News]

[Red Moon]

`Fragile' Barrymore tipped to win Big Brother
7 January 2006

MICHAEL Barrymore is favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother despite a day of bizarre behaviour.

He attempted to deface a portrait of the Queen by poking her eyes out with a lemon squeezer - earning him a dressing down by show bosses.

Barrymore's appearance on the show marks his TV comeback four years after partygoer Stuart Lubbock was found dead in the star's pool.

In a discussion about his troubled life, he said: "If you come through those moments when you lose you and you get you back, you're actually the better person for it and your work improves because of it. That's providing you come through it."

Bookmakers installed him as 3/1 favourite to win the Channel 4 show after the opening night crowd greeted him with cheers.

Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "We feared he might be damaged goods but the phones started ringing as soon as the show was over."

But Barrymore's fragile mental state became evident in the early hours.

After getting up because the other housemates complained about his snoring, he cut a sorry figure wandering the house alone.

Barrymore has found a fan in Respect MP George Galloway.

"You're a funny man, Michael, you'll be back. And you'll be back big," Galloway told him.

Meanwhile, Galloway and singer Preston have already rumbled fake celebrity Chantelle.

The Essex girl is trying to convince the other housemates she is a pop star from the pretend band Kandyfloss.

But she slipped up when telling the others about her supposed chart career.

Galloway told Preston: "She had one hit, it got to number 47."

"She told me 58," Preston said. "You don't think she's a red herring? I've never heard of her."

Galloway's surprise appearance in the Big Brother house has not gone down too well with his constituents. A group calling themselves the United Residents of Bethnal Green and Bow have set up a website headed: "Contestant George Galloway MP - Why Isn't He At Work?"

But fellow housemate Rula Lenska had a different view, revealing in the diary room that she had a soft spot for him.
Source: Manchester Evening News (http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/197/197937_fragile_barrymore_tipped_to_win_big_brother .html)

[Red Moon]

Channel 4 attempts to gag Galloway
Maverick MP warned to steer clear of politics
by Vikram Dodd
7 January 2006

George Galloway's hopes to use his residency in the Big Brother house to denounce the Iraq war and Tony Blair may be thwarted after Channel 4 vowed he would not be allowed to use the show as a soapbox.

Mr Galloway, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in east London, tried to head off criticism that he was letting his constituents down by devoting up to three weeks appearing in the show, by saying he was trying to bring politics and his ideals to an audience who are usually uninterested. His decision to swap the House of Commons for the Big Brother house alongside celebrities whose star has waned was yesterday condemned by Labour and some of his constituents.

In a statement, the MP - who set up the anti-war Respect party after he was expelled from Labour - set out his reasons for joining Michael Barrymore and the others for up to three weeks.
He gave a "Heineken" reason, saying he hoped taking part in the show would help him reach a young audience politicians usually can not reach: "I'm doing it for the audience, the biggest audience I will ever have. We need to use new and innovative methods to put across our arguments. I'm determined that there are no no-go areas for us and I believe Celebrity Big Brother will be hugely successful for our ideals. I hope ... to reach this mass, young, overwhelmingly not yet political audience with our simple case. That war without end, war throughout the world is leading us all to disaster ... Some of it will get through."

Not so fast, said a Channel 4 spokeswoman: "He won't be able to use his time in the house as a political soapbox. There are regulations and Ofcom rulings which mean we would monitor what is said by him and the others.

"He is one of 11 diverse and entertaining individuals in that house, so he's one of many with different opinions." Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, said Channel 4 had a duty to ensure "due impartiality" on issues of political controversy or major public policy, under the 2005 broadcasting code.

Mr Galloway has been accused of spending too much time away from his east London constituency which he won at the May 2005 general election by 823 votes. He missed a Commons vote on an anti-terrorism measure which the government scraped through by just one vote.

He went on a speaking tour to the US and visited Washington to famously denounce a Senate committee which accused him of financially benefiting from the Saddam Hussein regime. They are charges Mr Galloway denies and for which a British newspaper had to pay him libel damages.

Yesterday in his constituency, the voters who had sent Mr Galloway to Westminster had mixed views.

Kamal Khan, 19, voted for Mr Galloway in May and believes he will achieve more on television than in the Commons: "I'll watch it, I want him to get into the Iraq war. If he can mess up the Senate, he can mess up the celebrities. He can do more good by being on TV and by being in parliament."

Dave Baker, 31, agrees: "He's passing on the anti-war message to an audience who are not usually exposed to that message." But Evelyn Davies, 81, was not impressed: "When they get in we're all forgotten."

Jeff Luff, 46, said: "Keep him in there, he doesn't seem to do anything for the area - a typical politician."

Mr Galloway won his seat by appealing to Muslim voters in the area who were angry at Labour for joining in the invasion of Iraq. But what would they think of Big Brother, where flesh is notoriously very much in view?

As he entered the area's main mosque on Whitechapel Road for Friday prayers, Naeem Parvez warned that Mr Galloway's presence in the house, where past inmates have got got very intimate with each other, might offend morally conservative voters: "Many won't like it. It's [sexually] mixed, women are there."
Source: Guardian Unlimited (http://politics.guardian.co.uk/media/story/0,12123,1681222,00.html)

[Red Moon]

Celebrity Big Brother - Non Celeb
7 January 2006

Newspapers are desperate to find information about Essex girl Chantelle Houghton who is currently masquerading as a singer in Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother.

The Sun is appealing in their pages and website for anyone who knows Chantelle to contact them with details.

The paper quoted a friend as saying: “People have been commenting on her likeness to Paris Hilton for years. We call her Paris Travelodge because she is the Essex version of the real thing."

The 22-year-old blonde has a mission to convince the housemates that she is a famous popstar from a group called Kandyfloss, despite there being no such group. If she fails, she will be evicted from the house on Sunday.

Meanwhile, last night's London Evening News quoted Phil Green, managing director of Supermodel Ltd - a glamour model agency, as saying that Chantelle has worked for them for three years. He said: "What Chantelle does for us is a cross between glamour work and promotions. In the early days she did work for lads' mags."

The Standard said she is also signed to two look-alike agencies, where she earns as much as £300 per appearance.

The paper claims the managing director of one, Fake Faces, said he had been contacted by programme maker Endemol.

Jez Lee said: "Endemol contacted us because they were looking for people who could impersonate celebrities. We sent an email out to all our look-alikes.

"Its good to see Chantelle finally get her break... We're very proud of her."

A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: "Chantelle auditioned for Big Brother 6 as a normal contestant. The producers felt that she would work for Celebrity Big Brother this year. As far as I am aware no agency was contacted."
Source: Waveguide (http://www.waveguide.co.uk/latest/news060107.htm)

[Red Moon]

SCUM BACK!
By Nicola Methven, Tv Editor
7 January 2006

TV chiefs last night accused Michael Barrymore of cynically playing up to the cameras in a bid to win back fans after his four-year exile.

The shamed entertainer embarked on a series of bizarre antics in the Celebrity Big Brother house that left bosses cringing so much they axed the scenes from the highlights show.

Barrymore got out of bed to talk to a cactus, sang silly songs, talked gibberish to himself, got up at 4am to clean the already spotless kitchen and pulled faces.

But Channel 4 cut the scenes from last night's highlights programme.

An insider said: "We want people to be themselves. Barrymore's play-acting is just a blatant attempt to hog the limelight and it's not going to make it on to the screen."

Barrymore's ramblings included talking to himself about whether the lights were dimmers.

He then muttered to himself: "I've had 10 cups of tea. There are some horses out in the yard that I may have a ride on later."

And staring at a cactus he wondered if could turn one of the needles into a pen.

He said: "I can't get one off without breaking it and I don't want to do that."

Barrymore then tried to involve the audience in his antics just before 5.30am when he declared: "I'd like to welcome all our Swedish viewers." He eventually went to bed at 5.39am.

Earlier, 53-year-old Barrymore broke down as he stared at photos of boyfriend Shaun Davis.

In the diary room he told Big Brother why he wept so much and admitted part of him had wanted to leave the house immediately.

He said: "I'm very emotional, one minute I think let it all out, and the next I can hold it in.

"Genuinely I'm in the best place I've been in my life. If I feel like crying I should.

"Half of me is telling me to get up and get out, and the other half is telling me to stay because of all the s**t I've been dealing with. I'm not unhappy, I'm crying tears of happiness. I've spent my life making others happy and now it's my time to be happy."

But the tears were too much for Terry Lubbock, the father of Stuart Lubbock, 31, found dead in Barrymore's swimming pool during a debauched party at the star's Essex mansion in 2001.

The 60-year-old who has had a brain haemorrhage, lost his car delivery driver's job due to ill health on the same day Barrymore went in the house.

He blames stress brought on by Stuart's death.

In the house, former Baywatch star Traci Bingham had no idea who Barrymore was. When he claimed to be a "gynaecologist to the stars" she believed him.

Traci said: "You remind me of my gynaecologist. He's a short Asian guy."

Meanwhile housemate George Galloway was accused of betraying his Muslim constituents by appearing on the show.

Dozens protested outside his Respect Party HQ in Bethnal Green, East London, demanding he give back his MP's wages.

One said: "We are disappointed he's on TV with a Page 3 model and a Baywatch girl." They waved placards which read: "Give your MP's salary back."

Tower Hamlets Labour council leader Michael Keith said: "We think the public should know our MP is not here. He's not doing his job in Parliament and he's not doing his job in this community."

Minister for London Jim Fitzpatrick branded the rebel MP arrogant for abandoning his constituents to go on the show.

He said: "I am not too surprised about it, as he is a C-list politician with an A-list ego."

Back in the house, Essex girl Jodie Marsh moaned about being portrayed as a tart.

And she told basketball giant Dennis Rodman she doesn't think former FA secretary Faria Alam should take part just because she slept with some famous men.

Without a hint of irony she said: "I respect people who are famous for doing something."
Source: The Mirror (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=16556758%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html)

[Red Moon]

Victory booze-up for HMs
By GISELLA FARRELL
7 January 2006

TRACI’S quiz team Victory have won their own private party after winning yesterday’s first Big Brother task.

The HM’s were given a quiz – on themselves – and naturally telly host Michael Barrymore, who wore a ginger wig and shiny gold coat for the occasion, was quizmaster.

Tensions between fur-wearing Pete and certain group members ran high as Rula introduced herself with: "My name is Rula, I’m a countess and I don’t wear fur.”

The questions revealed some funny facts about the housemates – Maggot once worked in a pot noodle factory, and Rula had an album that pushed Led Zeppelin off the No1 spot.

Traci was revealed as a former Harvard student – and MP George had an embarrassing moment when he named ‘the Middle East’ as a continent.

Unsurprisingly not one celeb identified I Want It Right Now as Kandyfloss’s biggest hit, or Melody as the band Chantelle left to join them.

Team Victory - Traci, Rula, Maggot, Chantelle and Jodie – enjoyed champagne, buffet food and music in the living room, while the losers had to content themselves with a dip in the pool.

And Dennis took particular interest in flirty Chantelle's tight little green dress, as he stood gawping at the bedroom door at his blonde crush.
Source: The SUN (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006000002-2006010176,00.html)

[Red Moon]

Big Brother beware, the taxman is watching you
By : Cheryl Taylor
7 January 2006

IT is possibly the most absurd stealth tax yet. As another group of dysfunctional celebrities enters the Big Brother House for Celebrity Big Brother 2006, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is considering whether it should be liable for council tax or business rates.

Just before Parliament’s Christmas recess an MP asked whether the contestants’ occupancy of the BBH should attract a charge for council tax. John Prescott’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, not slow to capitalise on possible new revenue, immediately sent a VOA inspector to the house (pictured left) at Elstree film studios to decide whether it should be subject to council tax.

Peter Chapman, a partner at estate agents Cluttons, represented Elstree at the meeting with the VOA and believes the contestants should not be liable for council tax because of the short period they live there. The VOA is also considering whether the property should be assessed for business rates. This hangs on whether the premises constitute a rateable hereditament. Again Chapman says no, because the building is temporary, changing in size and layout for each summer and winter series. It is in reality a film set. If the BBH is not a rateable structure then the only other consideration is whether the compound that encloses it should be taxed.

Chapman says: “This de-pends upon whether Endemol, which produces the series, has exclusive occupation of the site. However, any value attributable to this site is already reflected in the main assessment for the Elstree Studio and therefore business rates are already being paid.”

The valuation officer is expected to make his decision shortly.
Source: Business Online (http://www.thebusinessonline.com/Stories.aspx?Big%20Brother%20beware,%20the%20taxma n%20is%20watching%20you&StoryID=1D246838-4896-44BF-ADFC-CA67EE522F6D&SectionID=BFA39CF0-29D3-4880-87CE-632DDBF00DDF)

[Red Moon]

Barrymore says he's been 'vilified'
By : Cheryl Taylor
7 January 2006

Michael Barrymore has hit out at the way he was "vilified" after a man was found dead in his swimming pool.

The troubled entertainer has told fellow Celebrity Big Brother contestants he was guilty of nothing except stupidity over the demise of father-of-two Stuart Lubbock.


In an emotional discussion with 80s pop star Pete Burns, Barrymore said he was "sick" of being kicked around by the press.

He talked about being branded a killer, and expressed the view that the press will not be happy until he commits suicide.

He also admitted fleeing the scene of the incident in 2001 was a mistake, blaming being terrified, drunk and under the influence of cannabis, according to a Channel 4 spokeswoman.

The footage, which was filmed on Friday, was to be screened on the hit show's highlights package.

Barrymore's career collapsed after 31-year-old Mr Lubbock's body was discovered in the swimming pool at his £1.5m Essex mansion.

Medical examinations revealed that Mr Lubbock had suffered serious internal injuries, suggesting he may have been the victim of a serious sexual assault before his death.

London-born Barrymore, 53, was interviewed by police, but never charged and an inquest in September 2002 recorded an open verdict. Barrymore moved to New Zealand, where he lives with his long-term partner Shaun Davis.

Barrymore, who announced he was bankrupt in 2004, is said to be picking up £150,000 for his Celebrity Big Brother appearance - which has been criticised by Mr Lubbock's family.
Source: Scotsman (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=31192006)