[James]

Monday, 20th February 2006

Wannabes queue for Big Brother
Seb Ramsay


QUEUE: For BB chance.

THOUSANDS of Big Brother hopefuls flocked to Manchester this weekend for a chance to star in the smash-hit reality TV show.

Queuing from before dawn, wannabe house mates braved near-freezing temperatures in everything from hot pants and lycra to fur coats and sunglasses in a bid to meet hostess Davina McCall and become the next Makosi or Chantelle.


PICK ME: Says Linzi Cave.

And, when the doors of New Century House opened at 9am, the five-deep line stretched all the way around the Miller Street side of the building and back down Dantzic Street towards Shude Hill and Withy Grove.

Once inside the building, the budding small-screen stars posed for a picture, filled out a form and were put through a series of filter auditions.

Competing for fewer than 15 places in the summer show, the final test was a one-minute pitch in a Big Brother-style Diary Room.

It was one of eight major audition days being held in major cities, but people from more isolated parts of the country get the chance to apply at a mobile studio called the Casting Coach.

Among those queuing for a shot at stardom was 19-year-old Lorna Philburn from Denton. The call- centre worker said she had been desperate to go on the show for years.

"I've been wanting to do it since I was 16 and I've watched every single one and I'm old enough now and I'm dying to get in," she said.....

Full article including audio interviews with the hopefuls - http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/me...g_brother.html