[Di2001]

Here's a copy of Ray's interview taken from the BBFans website

~~~~~~~~~~

BBFans: We watched your first few weeks outside the house on E4 and things were quite hectic for you – have you recovered yet?

Ray: Er, I have recovered in a way. I’ve had time to chill out, and get some rest, and catch up with friends. But you know, I still pick up the paper and I’m in it, and it’s a bit overwhelming at times. I still can’t believe I’ve actually done this, y’know. It’s been all good though. But I’ve been very, very busy y’know. I was in Dublin last week, and the week before that I was in South Africa with Cameron – we went over for the Big Brother Africa final.

BBFans: Did you have a good time?

Ray: It was absolutely brilliant over there, absolutely brilliant, like. Meeting all the housemates, like Cherise, who won it over there, and Gaetano. Yeah, it’s just been mayhem, absolute mayhem.

BBFans: Have things calmed down a bit now?

Ray: Er….not really! Its actually picked up a bit more now. A lot of the production companies were on holiday recently. We came out the house, and we were busy, and then it went quiet – not majorly quiet, but a bit quieter - but now it’s just picked up big time now again, so yeah.

BBFans: It’s been a life changing experience for you -what’s the best thing you’ve done since you’ve left the house?

Ray: Ooooh…that would have to be probably going over to Ibiza. We went over to make an appearance at a club over there, and we ended up at a party on a luxury yacht one night! I’m such a big fan of Ibiza, and I’ve been there so many times that I’ve always wanted to see how the DJ’s get on and find out first hand and stuff like that.

BBFans: You must get recognized by a lot of people. Do you still find that strange?

Ray: I do. Sometimes I forget, you know, when I go back to Ireland obviously, you get noticed a lot more, and when I step back off the plane at Heathrow or wherever I am like, and I realise, I’ll still get recognised over here as well. But erm, it’s only a few of us that really get noticed a lot y’know, like myself, Gos, Cameron and sometimes Federico. We get recognised a bit more than the rest of the housemates. But yeah, it is a shock to the system like, but we’re really enjoying it.

BBFans: Good. You haven’t experienced any of the negative aspects of fame then?

Ray: No, not at all like, which is surprising. The reaction I’ve had from everyone has just been crazy like. Everyone’s like “Oh Ray, you should have won”, and I’m chuffed. I never in a million years thought that would happen, especially after all my swearing and stuff, but overall, there’s been no bad reactions at all. It’s just been spot on.

BBFans: You spent 9 weeks cut off from the outside world, what did you miss the most?

Ray: Er..I think definitely music, my mates, going out pubbing and clubbing, and the general feeling of being able to do whatever, you know, without being told you have to do this or that – although I miss being told off all the time by Big Brother!

BBFans: What was your best experience inside the house?

Ray: Er, my best experience….without sounding too corny, it would be meeting the other 12 housemates that were inside the house, who were all brilliant. We all keep in contact with each other, which is a good thing, not a bad thing. As far as actual events go, it would probably have been the cabaret night that we had, and when we had the Irish pub, they’d have been the best parts, yeah. Watching the videos back, actually leaving, when we actually left the house – leaving the house to a reaction like that, the crowd cheering you on – I’ve always wanted to know what that felt like, and I’ve experienced it first hand now.

BBFans: How much of the series have you watched on video?

Ray: I’ve seen just until Cameron left to go to South Africa, and I’ve seen the eviction night as well. Some of the actual footage that I’ve seen erm, y’know, some of the stuff they showed, the edited stuff, compared to some of the stuff they should have showed - it was a bit disappointing that some of the stuff they’d showed was boring, yet some of the other stuff that was going on while that stuff was going on that was never shown. That was a bit strange.

BBFans: Do you feel you were fairly portrayed by Big Brother?

Ray: Yeah, I think everyone got to see every single aspect of my personality, y’know. They got to see the Irish fun side, they got to see when I was a bit down in the dumps, when I was being argumentative….. yeah, I think they portrayed me as a typical Irish person – swearing and drinking a lot! At the end of the day they did show a fair picture of myself. I don’t think they showed a fair picture of Scott, cos they had Scott as being fairly quiet, which he wasn’t at all, you know like. Scott’s a great guy, and for the first couple of weeks they missed a lot of our best bits – they actually kept myself and Scott fairly quiet and didn’t show much of us, y’know.

BBFans: Is it true that you’ve been offered a role in “The King and I?”

Ray: I actually went for the audition last week in Dublin. Obviously it was my first bit of acting I’ve ever done, and they liked what they’d seen and everything went really well, and they’ve called me back for a second audition. Hopefully we’ll see how it goes from there!

BBFans: Well done! Hope it all goes well!

Ray: (laughs) Cheers!

BBFans: Have you kept in touch with the other housemates?

Ray: I still see a lot of them. Scott and Cameron have been staying with me, although Scott’s been back up to Liverpool recently as it’s been his Dad’s birthday. He’ll be coming back down soon though. I’ve seen Nush as well…

BBFans: Is she alright?

Ray: She is, yeah, she’s grand, she’s in top form. I’ve been quite surprised – she’s been down the pub

BBFans: On crutches…

Ray: (laughs) Yeah, on her crutches. She’s doing alright, she’ll be fine, she’s a strong girl.

BBFans: Pass on our best wishes to her.

Ray: I will do! I’ll tell her everyone from BBFans says “Get Well soon!”

BBFans: Thank you! And finally, what are your plans for the future?

Ray: Erm, my plans for the future…. I’ve got to go tomorrow for a camera test for a new TV show which is being set up, and so hopefully it’ll be TV related – that’s what I’m mainly aiming for. Hopefully something to do with music, or something to do with travel. Something that’s a lot of fun. At the end of the day, I’m looking at every opportunity that’s being thrown at me and trying them out. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work, but I’m gonna give it my best shot, because I’ve definitely enjoyed doing the whole TV aspect of it over the last couple of weeks, so watch this space!

BBFans: I will do! Thanks very much for your time Ray, we really appreciate it.

Ray: No problem at all!

Thanks very much nicki and Ray for that - much appreciated!

~~~~~~~