[James]

Bubble hasn't burst for Big Brother loser

nlnews@archant.co.uk
23 August 2006

Bubble - aka Paul Ferguson

HE hit our screens with a hat that never seemed to leave his head, spent eight hours writing a poem with stones and ate 173 sweetcorn kernels with a toothpick.

But Big Brother 2 star Bubble has left the days of housemate antics behind as he works to make waves as a respected actor and playwright

Bubble, real name Paul Ferguson, is now launching his second play at Camden Town's Etcetera Theatre in Camden High Street.

Second Class Parents, co-written with old friend Grant Stringer, centres on one man who wants to see his children and is struggling to decide whether he should join the now-disbanded protest group Fathers 4 Justice.

Paul, who himself has a great relationship with eight-year-old daughter Briony, would love to see the play performed at the Edinburgh Festival next year.

Paul ended up in Big Brother 2 after an argument with former girlfriend Stephanie Johnson, who died from cancer earlier this year, aged 27.

He said: "I came in one night and she had Big Brother on but I wanted to watch Match of the Day. I said Big Brother looked so easy - and she got me the application form. I just thought I could go in, win £70,000 and put it in an account for my little girl."

In fact, he ended up being the fourth person evicted. But 30-year-old Paul, now married and living in Surbiton, said: "I don't regret it. It's opened many doors. When I came out, I got offered an acting job. But my agent said, 'If you want to be an actor, don't do it. Go and train'. So I turned the part down and went to the Guildford School of Acting and started writing as well."

Paul already has several appearances under his belt - including a panto every year and acting in a Christmas special of The Office.

He added: "Sometimes I go to an audition and they think, 'That's the guy from Big Brother. I don't want him.' Otherwise I get auditions because I was in Big Brother. But I learned my craft and can do the job."

Second Class Parents is on at 7.30pm from September 5 to 9 and 6.30pm on September 10. Tickets cost £8.50. Call 020 7482 4857.

http://www.camdengazette.co.uk/

Second Class Parents

By Paul Ferguson and Grant Stringer.

A chance meeting on a radio talk show brings together an unlikely group of men. All have one thing in common... a desire to see more of their kids.

How far should they go to make the case for a more equal input into their children's lives. Second Class Parents is an intense look at the emotions of a group of men pushed to the brink of frustration. Hidden beneath a veil of humour we get to see what drives some men to protest for Fathers Rights and its ultimate dramatic result.

5 September 2006 - 10 September 2006 at 7:30pm

tickets £8.50

http://www.etceteratheatre.com/page.php?pageID=2#show7