[BB11UK]

Lea Walker BB7:
Well, I wasn't gonna bother going for starters, I'd been to the auditions the year before and got through - I was supposed to be going on BB6. I planned my whole life - you imagine how your life will span out as a result of going in the House and then they rang at the last minute and barred me from going in because I'd done the programme on cosmetic surgery. I was so p*ssed off. I was really, really upset. So when they called me the following year [to audition again], I thought bugger off, but then I thought, you know what? I'm a single mum and I want to show everyone that single mums can do this. So I agreed.
What was apparent was that the audition process seemed to be different from the year before. What was weird was that everyone else was being assessed but it was like I wasn't being asked to do as much compared to the others. It was clear they wanted me by hook or by crook - I hadn't even been asked to do any guinea pig runs* like all the others had, I did none of that.

*Guinea Pig run' - in recent years BB producers have placed some people who have auditioned but not been chosen for the House into a 'trial house' for a few weeks before the series begins.

Gerry Stergiopoulos BB8:
My simple answer is be a very individual individual. Its all about being either quite special or quite representational of a stereotype. the chaviest chav, the nurdiest nerd, the poshest aristo and so on... I can only talk from personal experience really. Once I was told by one of the big execs that I was a good bargain a Greek gay geek.. three stereotypes in one.
There are so many stages - they even send a producer at ur work and drinks to meet ur friends. I applied for first time for BB7 and I did get in and afterwards i was told because I was too similar to Richard (Who’s now is one of my best friends in London).

Richard Newman BB7:
I'd been auditioning for Big Brother since BB5! I did well as so went back for BB6, where I was chosen to do the guinea pig run, so by series seven they well and truly knew me and I had by now got an understanding of exactly what they were looking for. I think they choose people from the dummy runs because they need to be sure that the people they put in the House are what they say they are - they are constantly checking and verifying and it also gives them a chance to see who you would and would not get on with.

See, they do audition again! They aren't just called and asked "Do you want to be a housemate this year? We'll put you straight in the house."