[JohnnyBB]

WHEN THE Big Brother contestants are unveiled this week for the last ever series of the Channel Four reality TV show, I'll be sitting at home thinking, "That shoulda been me..."

For the last four months I have been on the rollercoaster ride to whittle down 10,000 applicants to the show, to just 40. I was one of those 40 and the likelihood is that I would have been spending my World Cup summer being scrutinised and you would have known every nuance of my life. You would have been able to see me make a fool of myself and even crack up under the pressure of not seeing my beautiful daughters for weeks.

Some of you would have gotten a kick out of watching me conduct my morning absolutions and try to maintain my celibacy. But alas, it is not to be. I made the call a short while ago to tell them that I have decided not to take part, that I was turning my back on the fame, the glory, the abuse, the interview with Davina after being kicked out, and whatever else would await me.

It wasn't an easy call to make, because I have thought of little else but the possibility of being on the show. The programme makers are so clever that they suck you in until you end up referring to them as ‘Big Brother’. They become your confidante, your mentor and your taskmaster all rolled into one. And that is just for starters.

It all started at Wembley Arena several months ago. There were literally thousands of wannabees applying to be on this final series. From madmen to strippers to cross-dressers. It was a right old carry-on camping. More than once I asked myself, "Dotun, what the hell are you doing here?"

What I was doing was satisfying my ego, which had been tweaked by one of the show's producers, who thought that I might make a good housemate.

She said it didn't matter that I'm not a teenage wannabe reality star. And she was right, because she got me all the way to the final cut. But it took a sista in the right place to know that there is a plethora of black talent out there that never gets a shout on the box. Not just me but MTV comedian Kojo was there too.

After answering what seemed like a thousand questions on their forms they throw you into a makeshift dark room – which is supposed to replicate the diary room on the show – and the Big Brother voice of doom booms out of a set of hidden speakers.

"So Dotun, you stopped someone committing murder. Tell Big Brother more about it."

That question really scared me. It was then that I realised how clever these people are. They go through hundreds of questions that you answered flippantly and select the one that will put the fear of God into you.

Amazingly, I got through the next round, which is when the cloak and dagger side of Big Brother started to take shape. I got a message on the phone to invite me to meet a man in a red coat with a red umbrella outside Hammersmith tube station, "The password is Harold..."

At the next session we were told that we were the lucky 200. And we were put into groups of 20. There were several airheads, lads and ladettes, and one cocky git who wanted everyone to know that he had an IQ of 160. To be fair he was the one who realised that the huge mirror in the room was a two-way mirror. We were being watched.

Then I was in the last 50 and it was time to see the two psychiatrists in a London hotel who try their damnedest to tell you that you don't want to be on Big Brother - you're wasting your time.

The problem for me is that I did want to be on Big Brother. I wanted to go right to the end. The only issue was how I was going to afford it. You see the difference between me and the rest of the Big Brother wannabees is that I've already ‘made it’.

I'm not famous enough to have been invited on Celebrity Big Brother, where they pay you lost wages to come on. But I am too well established and earning too much to be lumped with those who are the rank and file of your bog standard Big Brother housemates.

The show is just going to pay you £40 a day whilst you're in the Big Brother house. Now, I don’t know about you, but my family cannot live on £50 a day. If I was there to the end I could lose up to £100,000. And for that they would pay me £50 a day? I'm sure you'll agree that that can't work.

So you don't get to see me making a fool of myself. The nation misses out on seeing a real person who doesn't need to be a reality star on the programme. And what would have been the best ever Big Brother with me in the mix can now only possibly be second best.

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=17669

[Twilight]

Wow, whos that in you avater btw

[keithafc]

Is this some sort of joke or something?

At the end of the day, you decided not to go in. Thats all there is to it.

[Jayson]

Add the link to the article - http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=17669


I think the person who supposedly 'turned down BB' probably actually just got told he wasn't what they were looking for, and then said that he/she turned them down to look less stupid.

And that last line is just arrogant and pathetic, he/she would've probably been a shit housemate anyway.

[keithafc]

Originally Posted by Jayson

Add the link to the article - http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=17669


I think the person who supposedly 'turned down BB' probably actually just got told he wasn't what they were looking for, and then said that he/she turned them down to look less stupid.

And that last line is just arrogant and pathetic, he/she would've probably been a shit housemate anyway.

Agree. Anyone LOOKING for fame or work after BB, is always going to go on BB. FFS, its a platform for many people and many people have got good work out of it after they come out.

[billy123]

Originally Posted by Jayson

Add the link to the article - http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=17669


I think the person who supposedly 'turned down BB' probably actually just got told he wasn't what they were looking for, and then said that he/she turned them down to look less stupid.

And that last line is just arrogant and pathetic, he/she would've probably been a shit housemate anyway.

lol rubber johhny tried to make out it was him and added the link after being found out

[ElProximo]

I did not get as far as he (or she?) did and I don't believe I would have,
but,
I did pull mine too.

Apparently this person makes an astonishing amount of money. I don't know what the hell they do for a living but I want to make 100,000+ for 3 or 4 months work!
Wow!
Even still I would NOT accept that reason if this was BB1 or early on.
People did put aside high-paying jobs because the life experience was something beyond money.
I remember early BB's where one said they would have PAID 500,000 because the experience changed their entire life for the better.

Now I DO understand it.
The entire thing is no longer a brave and life-changing socio-psychological challenge of a lifetime but a bunch of idiots who do reality shows like a summer job and already know every stupid thing about it,
and,
rather than come out to great insights, experiencing notoriety and being commended - people come out to disgusting humiliation on rubbish television and really the most immature nonsense.

Up until BB9 I had always thought it would be the most amazing experience and one I'd give up a job for.
I'd agree with the family to arrange it.
If it COST me money to get it all done - Id have found a way.

After seeing BB10 the entire 'magic' of the whole idea fell away and although I do not know if I would have made it in - I just thanked God I never did.

Put it this way - I used to HATE HMs who walked out because they threw away opportunities most just wish they had. Not for 'fame' but to test themselves, to see if they could meet the challenge.
I used to.
Then BB10 Tom walked out after a few days I did not blame him for a minute!
Good!
I just remember thinking "Id have done it too" and I fully understood it and no blame.

I say good for the person here. I think they made the right choice.

[*mazedsalv**]

So.. by the sounds of that... they have it down to 40 or less and not the 80-90 rumoured. It sounds very serious.

[Possiblehousemate]

That pik is not him, its a widley used google pik and everyone uses it as a fake..
I also changed my mind!

Long story cut short, I chickened out told everyone i wasnt doing it, but then my mum tried to convince me to do it Saying im stupid for not chasing an oppurtunity.. Big bro has no oppurtunitys! I am sticking to university :P

got quite far @_@

[eye sea]

Originally Posted by keithafc

Is this some sort of joke or something?

At the end of the day, you decided not to go in. Thats all there is to it.

I also decided not to go in. I acted in such a way I wasn't chosen at the auditions.

[ElProximo]

Originally Posted by eye sea

I also decided not to go in. I acted in such a way I wasn't chosen at the auditions.

In fairness though - he is saying he pulled out while there was still a chance he could go another round.
That is different than someone being rejected and then 'saves face' by saying "Oh I quit anyways!".

In my case, I got this crazy feeling/fear that I actually was going to a second round with this 'practice BB room' thing.
I say 'fear' because I just believed I knew how to rock that interview/test and there was a real possibility - no matter how slim.

I guess you can say that is the difference - walking away because I feared getting picked.
Not because I feared getting rejected.

I dunno if this is what this person was doing or thinking but I just feel like I want to relate.
Surely some others here had this same experience?
I mean some others here may have been rejected but later realized they were thankful for it?

[*mazedsalv**]

Someone i know didnt really want to audition but did with his mates, tried to be as normal as he could be, and is now is in hiding... he didnt expect it at all.

So sometimes wanting to wreck your chances, only increase then, its when you are too desperate when you get rejected.

[Kazakh]

It is a terrible thing to have a destiny and to flunk it. (Lawrence of Arabia).

[ElProximo]

Originally Posted by *mazedsalv**

Someone i know didnt really want to audition but did with his mates, tried to be as normal as he could be, and is now is in hiding... he didnt expect it at all.

So sometimes wanting to wreck your chances, only increase then, its when you are too desperate when you get rejected.

Yes!
Exactly! I can tell you that is probably exactly what happened and what is worse is they detect you resent or disrespect what they are doing and see a golden opportunity to put in someone to royally eff with.
Example - Marcus from BB10

Yes.. I am sure your theory is absolutely correct and that is exactly what happened to him.
The only thing I would worry about is that he gets picked, they will antagonize him, humiliate him (or her not sure),
and,
after it is all said and done they will have been right all along - they did not want it and will regret it.

[dawa]

Ive decided for years that I dont want to go in! Thats why ive never auditioned

Anyway I put on my Super Secret Detectives hat and googled the guys name

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dotun_Adebayo

Dotun Adebayo MBE (born 25 August 1960) is a Nigerian-born, British-based radio presenter, writer and publisher. He is best known for his work on Up All Night on BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as the obituary programme Brief Lives.

[WOMBAI]

Originally Posted by keithafc

Agree. Anyone LOOKING for fame or work after BB, is always going to go on BB. FFS, its a platform for many people and many people have got good work out of it after they come out.

Only those with any talent (which is virtually none) will achieve any longevity in the business - it won't last for the rest of them!

[Kazakh]

Utter dreck! One can stop at anytime before the actual day of launch. Last year I auditioned in Dublin, negligible queues yet I last 30 seconds, this year made it to the penultimate stage. Depends on whom one gets initially, hardest hurdle is the first bu then one gets caught up in it. Some metrosexual dude was in London, late March call backs. Floppy hair, floppy attitude but he had got that far the year previously. Soul destroying?

[Niall]

Originally Posted by dawa

Ive decided for years that I dont want to go in! Thats why ive never auditioned

Anyway I put on my Super Secret Detectives hat and googled the guys name

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dotun_Adebayo

He shared a flat with that shoe-bomber bloke!

[crossieKIDD]

who turned it down :S

[*mazedsalv**]

Originally Posted by WOMBAI

Only those with any talent (which is virtually none) will achieve any longevity in the business - it won't last for the rest of them!

The person i know who is in hiding is happy with he job that this person is doing and already has the life long ambition, wont want to become "famous" just wants a different summer to have fun and hopefully win, because they need the money to finish off the house and donate to charity.

[keithafc]

Originally Posted by WOMBAI

Only those with any talent (which is virtually none) will achieve any longevity in the business - it won't last for the rest of them!

There is still a lot of people who went into BB still getting media work.