[Amy]

BIG Brother 5 runner-up Jason Cowan this week thanked the people of Hamilton who supported him during his stay in the nation’s most-talked-about house.

Jason spoke exclusively to the Advertiser on Monday just days after the show’s finale.

The 30-year-old, who has lived in Hamilton for over 10 years, was amazed by the support shown for him from the Hamilton public.

He said: “I am really chuffed to have had the backing of Hamilton people. I can’t thank them enough for showing me support while I was in the house.”

The Advertiser was quick to get behind Jason and was soon supported by Asda, Hamilton, and Bell College gym — where Jason used to work out.

His local chippie, The Golden Fry, on Wellhall Road, also named a supper after the Big Brother contestant and the town’s Equis introduced their own Jason ice-cream.

Jason, who entered the house wearing a thong and bow-tie, was shocked to make it through to the final week.

He said: “When I found out Stuart had gone I played it quite low key, but it was at that point that I really believed that I had a good chance of winning it.

“After Shell and Dan left, I was sitting there with Nadia and really thought that I was going to win.

“But when I came out of the house and heard just how much support Nadia had, Brad Pitt could have been up against her and she would still have won. But, I am really pleased to have taken second place.”

Nine million viewers tuned in last Friday night to see Jason, Dan, Nadia and Shell battle it out to win the ÂŁ63,500 prize-money and the chance to be crowned the winner of Big Brother.

Since Big Brother ended, Jason has found it quite difficult to adapt to his normal way of life.

He has decided to step back from the lime-light to spend time with his friends and to decide what he wants to do now.

He said: “There has been a lot of rubbish about me in the papers. Before I entered the house, I created this kind of character just to get me in the door. I said I had slept with over 200 women and that I was bisexual but that of course that was just to get me in door and it wasn’t true.

“But, I can’t believe the kind of stories that have been circulating in the papers since I have been inside the house.”

“Big Brother showed me, while I was in the house, quite well in the first two weeks, and then they showed a negative side for the rest of the time.

“I wasn’t all bad. I don’t think I will be watching myself back on television.

“The whole experience has been such a roller coaster ride. When I said I wanted to escape over the wall I really did want to leave. I don’t think people realise how hard it is in the house; your emotions are all over the place.”

Now the fitness fanatic has plans to pursue a career as a personal trainer and hasn’t ruled out the prospect of opening up his own fitness studio.

“I might open my own fitness place in Hamilton on the back of the great support that I have received from the town,” he said.

Jason plans to visit the town later this month and will be appearing in his own BB Super Circuit class at gyms up and down the country.

The class which promises to be great fun will be run by Jason’s best friend Alan Strachan, who is an experienced personal trainer.

Jason will join the class to enjoy a workout to the Big Brother show’s theme tune.

For more information on the classes call 07930 176 788.

sbartynek@s-un.co.uk

Article from IC Lanarkshire