[Mrluvaluva]

From The Daily Star

BIG Brother’s Ziggy has been branded a fame-hungry “fake” by EastEnders babe Rita Simons.

The 30-year-old blonde, who plays new Mitchell sister Roxy in the BBC1 soap, was in pop group Tantrum with Ziggy more than ten years ago.

And she reckons he will be green with envy when he comes out of the house and discovers her success in landing the telly role.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sunday, Rita confided: “The Ziggy on Big Brother is nothing like the Ziggy I used to know.

“It is so obvious that he’s playing a massive game and is using Chanelle and the other housemates. He’s basically being fake.

“He was always desperate for fame so I wasn’t that surprised to see him on Big Brother. But it is weird watching him. He’s like a different person.”

Rita told how in Tantrum days she, Ziggy and Blue singer Duncan James, 29, were the best of pals. But the two hunks fell out when the group split.

She said: “We used to do everything together and were really close.

“Duncan and I are still close. He was an usher at my wedding and we will be mates for life.

“But I lost contact with Ziggy because, basically, I valued Duncan’s friendship more.

“When I first met Ziggy he was quite a naive and innocent guy.

“He seems a lot more clued-up now.

But you can tell he’s not as genuine as he used to be.”

Rita is waiting to see what 26-year-old Ziggy – real name Zach Lichman – will make of her EastEnders role.

She laughed: “God, can you imagine? I’m sure he will be really shocked and jealous!”

Following Tantrum, Rita was the lead singer of short-lived girls@Play, who notched up two hits in 2001.

Ziggy went on to appear in boybands V5 and Northern Line alongside Kerry Katona’s ex-love, Dan Corsi.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=2012