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Jun 10 2005
Exclusive By iccroydon http://iccroydon.icnetwork.co.uk/new...name_page.html

THE PARENTS of Big Brother housemate Sam Heuston say their daughter is not the saucy sex-addict she's been labelled.

In an exclusive interview, her father Steve told The Advertiser Sam was a smart determined young woman and the family were horrified by newspaper headlines after several of her exboyfriends sold their stories.

He said: "It's been stressful. We haven't spoken to any of the tabloids ourselves but there seems to be plenty of people willing to sell their stories for money. I don't see why they are making such a fuss. Sam doesn't commit crimes, she doesn't do drugs, she's just a beautiful young girl having fun."

Speaking from his home in Cheam he revealed the 23-year-old has Croydon roots, being born in Mayday University Hospital and spending four years living in Thornton Heath.

Steve said Croydon was still his daughter's first choice for a night out and he hoped local people would back her to win even though - with all the housemates up for eviction tonight - she is the bookmakers' favourite to go.

He said: "We moved to Cheam about ten years ago but Sam is a Croydon girl born and bred. Even though we've moved a bit further away it's still our main area. Sam would go out clubbing and pubbing in Croydon and our whole family still goes back there for shopping."

The Heuston family lived in Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, after Sam was born before moving to Worcester Park and then on to Cheam. Sam attended St Philomena's Convent School, in Carshalton, and did her A-levels at Reigate College.

A Croydonian himself and an avid Crystal Palace fan, Steve said he had never paid much attention to Big Brother until his daughter said she was going for auditions.

He said: "She was determined to get on. We haven't been able to speak to her for weeks because they are sworn to secrecy. They take them away for two weeks before the show so they can't talk to anyone."

The family went to Elstree Studios, in Hertfordshire, to see presenter Davina McCall launch the sixth series two weeks ago. In a demonstration of support for his daughter Steve is still wearing the security wristband given to him on the night.

He said: "It makes me feel somehow closer to her."

During the last week Sam has been criticised for giggling too much, flirting, and wearing revealing clothes but her dad says she's a intelligent girl bored by having nothing to do.

He said: "I would like to see her making more conversation with people but they need more to do, some tasks and things. I think most people in there have a game plan which makes for a lot of paranoia and insecurity.

"In some ways we want her out so we can see her but in others we want her to go the course.

"I hope she stays in for at least a few more weeks because by then the whole dynamic of the house will have shifted."

If she does go all the way he also has some ideas about what she can do with the £100,000 prizemoney. He said: "She can pay me back some of her student loan for a start!"