[James]

Nick Bateman Speaks To Us

Nick Bateman didn't know what he was letting himself in for when he signed up for Big Brother.

And now the ex-housemate is passing his wisdom on to other reality TV hopefuls in the UK's first ever wannabe workshop.


Nick Bateman

To be held on October 8th in London, Celebrity Academy aims to help anyone who wants to try out for a reality show.

Experts will give a range of seminars throughout the day - offering top advice on how to survive the auditions.

And on top of that, the day will end with a VIP party - giving those taking part a taste of the celeb lifestyle.

Intrigued, we sat Nick down for a chat...

How did you get involved with the Celebrity Academy workshop?

I was asked if I was interested in delivering a speech to a roomful of reality TV hopefuls and I thought it sounded fun. I've done Oxford and Cambridge University debates before and I want to pass on the information I have.

How competitive is it to get into reality TV? More so now than when you tried out?

No, it's not more competitive, there are just more shows now. There were only a couple when I started out.

What was your audition process like for Big Brother?

It was a long process - six months! It was exhausting with lots of hurdles put in our way to jump. So I really know what they are looking for. This academy is helpful because it allows people to prepare. It's like going for a job - if you had an interview, you'd need to do research.

Do you think you need any actual talent to make it these days?

Yes, you need something. When we tried out for Big Brother there were 50,000 or so applicants. To be picked from them you need something that makes you stand out. I think reality show contestants are too easily labelled as having no talent, but you do need it to get in.

Was it your intention to become famous when you auditioned for Big Brother?

No! We thought no-one was watching it. We thought we'd go in and have fun - that's why we were so natural.

Did the show change your life, particularly as you were portrayed as a villain?

The press like to cast labels; they do it with sportsman, our politicians - and that's what happened to me. But has the show changed my life? No. People recognise me, there are positives and negatives, but I can't regret it. It would be worse to regret something I hadn't done.

What tip that you give during your session at Celebrity Academy do you wish you'd had before trying out for Big Brother?

No tips - that's how I got on. You just have to be yourself.

Which of Big Brother's housemates do you believe has had the biggest success since leaving the house?

I don't really scour the papers so I don't know how the others are doing. I think a lot of it is legend created by the press anyway, so it's hard to know if it is true. Lots of contestants have gone back to everyday life - one I know is a mini-cab driver...

Do you have to do more to get noticed in reality TV these days? The vote fixing scandal that surrounded you seems innocent to the likes of scheming Makosi.

No, I don't think it's less innocent. Reality TV allows us to see what our culture really is and that's frightening. I do think that contestants today are more interested in making money than having fun. But their careers won't last as people see through that.

Finally, what are your plans for the future?

I've just finished a BBC course in camera work. I don't want to work in front of the camera. Ultimately, I want to make documentaries. It is difficult to get into and because of reality TV, there's always a question mark hanging over you, but you just need to get on with it.

To find out more about the Celebrity Academy workshop, click here

To visit Nick's website, click here

Last Updated: 11:14 UK, Friday September 09, 2005

http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0...194073,00.html

[cc100]

Fair play to him.

At least he is doing something positive.

[The_Hitman]

nasty pasty