[Thunderor]

THOUSANDS of wannabees braved the cold, rain and wind in the hope they could be the next Jade Goody or Nasty Nick at the Big Brother Five auditions at ExCeL.

Around 6,000 people queued outside the Docklands exhibition centre last Saturday and Sunday (March 13 and 14) - and I joined them at the crack of dawn on Saturday to see just what it took to be selected for Britains biggest reality TV phenomenon.

Or rather Gareth McCall - a photography student from Southampton - joined them.

I went under an alias to see if my creation would be deemed enough of an exhibitionist to entertain the country this summer.

As I stood in the queue I gazed in amazement at the lengths some people would go to.

Hannah Killick of Hackney had dressed as a sumo-wrestler.

"I hope that they will see from my outfit that I'm more than willing to make a fool of myself for the entertainment of others," said the 22- year-old.

As I snapped away with my camera, one even more loopy hopeful ran past wearing nothing but a flasher's mack shouting: "Who wants to see my nuts?"

I panicked as it became clear the man was soon going to expose himself, but thankfully he had covered his dignity with a copy of a weekly magazine of the same name. Behold- a comic genius was in out midst. How on earth was I going to get through to see Big B?

But amazingly my student alter-ego Gareth was one of the "lucky ones" chosen to proceed to the questionnaire round.

This involved a few grillings - one from BB himself - while I sat in the blue Diary Room chair. I could hardly believe it - me (well, Gareth) - face to lens with BB.

Alas, my hopes were cut short - although there were only 50 hopefuls left when I was turfed out.

As I left I saw sumo-Hannah wander forlornly past with her costume stuffed under her arm.

Biggest isn't always best is it, dear?

Alan Lodge, ic Thewharf, 17/03/04.

[James]

Here's someone else hoping to make it into 'the house'. If he really is down to the last few hundred he's a bit silly talking to the press about it though.

Dragons' star aims for Big Brother

IN THE LIMELIGHT: Shawn Van Rensburg

GWENT rugby player Shawn Van Rensburg wants to temporarily swap the changing- rooms at Rodney Parade for the diary room in the Big Brother house.

Newport Gwent Dragons star Shawn, 28, has got down to the last couple of hundred for the Channel 4 reality TV programme.

And he says he wanted to try out for Big Brother 5 to give himself a new challenge.

But Shawn stresses he won't be giving up rugby for a TV career - he aims to fit the experience into his summer break from his sport.

The Dragons back-row forward, originally from South Africa, and who now lives in Bridgend, says if he gets through to the final line-up he would join the housemates instead of going home to visit his parents during the summer.

He said: "I decided to go for Big Brother, and so far I have got through a few rounds and I think I am now down to the last couple of hundred people.

"I just have to wait now for a couple of weeks to find out if I will be one of the final 12 they pick.

"I have seen it on TV lots of times, and thought I would love to give it a chance."

Shawn is single, and says that if he went into the house other career offers would be interesting - but he would never give up his sport.

He plans to finish this season, go into the house, carry on training and start the new season after he comes out - or gets evicted.

He said: "I will have to do push-ups and sit-ups in there, there will be something."

Shawn has been through a round of talking on camera in the diary room, filled in forms about his life, and now he is waiting to hear if the application process has been a success.

He says: "Even if I don't make it I have enjoyed it. I would love to make it but I wouldn't pin any hopes on it.

"If I got in there I would miss speaking to my friends, I would miss all the news and miss speaking to my parents.

"I would like to make it, but if not I will go home and have a great time back home."

The first Big Brother saw Craig Phillips take the money and title, and he then started to work on DIY TV programmes.

The second Big Brother saw Helen Adams, from Cwmbran, fight it out with Brian Dowling, with Brian taking the money and Helen finding love with Paul Adams. Kate Lawler won Big Brother 3 and has since presented on TV and radio.

Big Brother 4 saw Cameron Stout leave the house victorious, and winner of £70,000.

http://www.thisisgwent.co.uk/gwent/news/NEWS2.html