[Mrluvaluva]

THIS week will see contestants enter the Big Brother house for the very last time. We catch up with former Big Brother contestant Federico Martone (30) who says it’s time for the show to go.

Appearing on Big Brother four at the age of 22, the waiter from Glasgow was famed for his quest to spark a house romance and having the flair of never straying far from controversy.

Now helping his Italian father Rocco run the successful Merchant City restaurant Qua, Federico says it is about time to bury the infamous reality show.

Looking forward to the opening of his art gallery above Glasgow bar Butterfly and the Pig, the friendly and articulate Federico seems to me like an unlikely housemate - but as Federico himself will tell you, that, was eight years ago.

Recalling his time in the house, he says: “I was 22-years-old and basically looked at it as a chance to have monetary reward for very little endeavour, better for working for a living and probably at the time saw the chance to find some sexual conquests.

“I don’t think its wrong to be 22 and have some bravado or have some misplaced sense of overconfidence, it is what it is – you are going to learn.”
Appearing on TV shows and radio after his exit from the house, the former New York cocktail waiter freely admits that life went back to normal after the hype of Big Brother died down.

He says: “A few years ago when I was doing a lot of stuff regularly and I was in London, I thought I had arrived or something, (followed by laughter) but subsequently I ran out of money and had to run home and stay at my mum’s house with my tail between my legs.

“That is probably an accurate depiction of most housemate’s existence after Big Brother.”

He adds: “There is like this self-absorbed, delusional phase which is quite par for the course, because they come out and is some overwhelming experience.

They have far too many people in their ear that they shouldn’t have.

“Then there will be a realisation two or three years later that it was a life experience.”

Opening an art gallery probably isn’t the norm for the majority of former Big Brother stars, but Federico is excited about his new venture claiming he is no art expert but saying “I know what I like”.

Teaming up with artist Shaheen Manishi, the gallery will be a mix of different art genres and the pair hope to run classes and embrace the art community.

Describing the venture, Federico says: “We will be exhibiting all kinds of British artists, and they will be invited to be a part of it, choose how their work is portrayed.

“We would like to do art classes too – it’s not just a case of us getting hold of some tacky art, that’s the last thing we want to do.”

Aswell as the imminent launch of his art gallery, the Scots Italian is also involved in events for bars and clubs such as Buff Club, Butterfly and the Pig and The Shed on top of managing a busy town centre restaurant.

Federico’s Big Brother stint seems like a distant memory to him now, which appears to make him happy as he drifts away from the stereotype and makes his own success.


rutherglenreformer

[KG.]

Oh yeah... him.

[Mac Hiavellian]

I'm still amazed he failed every single task. Even when he went back for BB10! And he blabbed about Jacko's death