[James]

I thought the new members from Finland would be interested in this interview. It's from August 2001 (about a month after Big Brother 2 finished) and was when Helen and Paul said they were a couple.

The magazine itself isn't in very good condition thanks to an unfortunate incident with a cup of tea so I haven't scanned the pictures.

There's also one from November or December of that year where they said they were moving in together. I'll try and look it out.

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Heat’s Dominic Smith talks to the Big Brother couple about love, snogs and “stuff”

As HEAT celebrity exclusives go, it’s been one of the more dramatic. At one o’clock last Wednesday afternoon the call came through to the heat office. Helen and Paul, whose “on or not?” romance had been the country’s biggest showbiz story for three weeks, wanted to meet with us in four hours’ time to give us the world exclusive the tabloids all wanted — their official love story, in their own words.

A studio was hunted down, a photographer booked and the heat office transformed into a hot-bed of intrigue. What exactly, we wondered, did they want to tell us? Four hours later, in a studio in north London, everything becomes clear. As the couple wander in clutching suitcases, we are given an immediate insight into the chaotic nature of Helen and Paul’s new-found celebrity status: a car full of reporters had trailed their cars before finally being shaken off; an hour after they arrived we discovered a tabloid reporter hanging around on the fire escape; and all afternoon frenzied calls were made to the heat office asking where the supposedly secret shoot is taking place.

As Helen and Paul sit down and chill their boots, he is still fuming from the events of the night before. Attending the Planet Of The Apes premiere party at London’s Ministry Of Sound, they’d been hassled all night by reporters, a badgering which, according to Paul, had culminated in one pulling Helen’s hair to get her attention. The following morning they realised enough was enough and decided to tell their story to heat — a magazine they felt they could trust — in return for a donation to their chosen charities, The Dyslexia Institute (Helen) and Cancer Research (Paul).

Paul is clearly worked up about the previous night’s events, but as the conversation progresses both of them visibly relax and the chemistry between them is clear. They’re constantly touching each other’s knees, hugging each other and the banter is spontaneous and natural. In between posing for the photographer, they openly kiss, not caring that people are watching. As a couple they look “way cool”. And they’re finally ready to talk...

Why are you doing this interview?
Paul: I think purely because we know how we feel about each other. We know what we want to have a relationship with one another but the climate at the moment seems to be that they [the media] are trying to play us off against each other.

In what way?
P: There was an incident where this model gave me a slight kiss on the cheek and suddenly, before I’d even got home, there was a phone call to Helen saying I’d snogged her, so they’re trying to create this rift between us. So we’re trying to put the record straight. The tabloids haven’t a clue what is going on; like Helen saying I tre ated her like a tart...
Helen: I never said that...
P: So we want to put the record straight. We’re fed up with hiding in the back of cars; we’re hoping that if people are aware of what’s going on they might leave us be. We want to have a private relationship.

Are you shocked by all the media attention?
H:Yeeaahhh.
P: We never thought this would happen. What happened in the house was a real thing that progressed...
H: Paul, was it 60:40 though? [Laughs]
P: We’ll come back to that. That’s cool, that is cool...

I can’t believe you’ve just said your catchphrase two minutes into the interview.
P: [Laughs] Oh, I say it all the time.
H: He does. But last night was just the icing on the cake [with the media]. There was a guy pulling my arm, another pulling my hair trying to speak to me. I was like, “Leave me alone.”

You must have been pissed off about that, Paul?
P: Oh, very, very much. You don’t like to see someone pulling your girlfriend — I can say that now — by the hair. It’s not on.

So, you are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend?
P: Yeah.
H: Uh-um.

I should have had a trumpet fanfare ready.
H: We are official.

When did you officially become a couple?
P: I think Helen had been out a week and we decided... H: I decided.
P: Well, yeah, you decided...
H: No, we both decided.
P: ... it was what we both wanted.

Where were you?
P: On the phone. We’d gone a week without seeing each other and we decided to get together. But the press got it all wrong. We’ve never had arguments, they made up the fact that we had sex. And the next day they called us liars because we said we hadn’t had sex.
H: But it’s nobody’s business.

You’re getting asked that a lot aren’t you?
H: Yeeaaahhh.

I was going to ask you...
P: And the answer is...
H: None of your business.
P: It’s personal, it’s a relationship. If I was to ask if you had sex with your girlfriend last night, it’s none of my business is it? So just because we’re in the public eye, there’s no way they’re going to know our sexual activities because that’s none of their business.

The whole country wants to know though...
P: They want to know but they’re never going to. We’re boyfriend and girlfriend and that’s all they need to know. And sex on camera was never going to happen, I respected Helen completely and we knew towards the end that we fancied each other.

That became obvious to us all.
P: I think so.
H:We watched the video the other night and the way you looked at me at my birthday party. You liked me then Paul, didn’t you?
P: When you look back now at the way the relationship bloomed in the house, it was quite sweet. It is like a fairytale thing that happened. We can’t believe Out of 60,000 people they picked us to go in the house.

So you think it’s fate that you got together?
P: I think it is.
H: Yeah.
P: The odds on it are unbelievable.

But to go back to “the question”. Do you not think you’re going to keep being asked it till you answer it?
H: What question?

Have you done the business
P: I’ll carry on saying, “It’s none of your business.”

You’re not going to tell me you’ve done it, are you?
P:No.
H: No, we’re not.

Even if I’m really nice?
H: No, it won’t make any difference.

And if I smile a lot?
H: No, you’re not going to us over. Sorry.

OK. So how much have you seen of each other?
P: We’ve seen each other four or five times. Odd days.
H: We’re always off doing different things. It’s difficult
P: Although last weekend. Helen came over to visit me and my parents in Reading. Even that was like a top-secret operation to get her in and out again. But it was great as it meant we managed to spend some quality time together

So where are you both living at, the moment?
H: I’m going to move to London. I’m moving in with Amma so that’s cool.

So you’re leaving the hairdressers?
H: I’m not going back to that hairdressers but I still like hairdressing. I’d like something to do with TV and hairdressing.

Are you doing the Sky show with Lorraine Kelly?
H: Yes, and I can’t wait to get started.

Paul?
P: I’ve enjoyed doing the bits of radio and TV I’ve done so far so I’d love to do that. I’ve really enjoyed presenting, like Big Brother’s Little Brother and I’ve been to several meetings but nothing has been confirmed. I’m not taking it too seriously because I had a fairly good life before Big Brother.
H: Did you live your life as an international pop star? [Laughs uproariously]

You famously lived your life as an international pop star!
H: Why did you say that?
P: I have no idea! To this day I do not remember saying that line. I think I know what I meant but it came out wrong. What I meant was that I came out of
university and got myself a really good job, I was a single guy, travelling and earning really good money. I’d lived my life really well, but the way it came out was totally embarrassing.

Was your first date the meal in the Big Brother den?
P: Yeah, I don’t get nervous but I was nervous about that.

Were you worried you might misbehave in the den?
P: No, I made a pact with myself.
H: And I did.

You must have been tempted?
H: There were many times we could have snogged.
P: Don't get me wrong, there were many times we could have snogged but it was completely inappropriate. I have respect for Helen and I put myself in her boyfriend's shoes.

How did you feel when you knew Big G had dumped Helen?
P: I was well chuffed because all I wanted was to be with Helen. There’s no doubt about that.

I think the viewers thought you were cooling things off towards the end.
H: Nooooooo!
P: I wasn’t. But I had to make it clear that we had to get out and see how things were.

I’m not allowed to ask if you’re in love with each other, am I?
H:That’s a deep and meaningful conversation.
.P: Yeah it is. I think in the house I said I loved Helen — and I do love Helen — but there’s a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. I love Helen to pieces. I love her as a person — and my feelings are getting stronger all the time.

So what do you really like about each other?
P: Helen has this mad aura
about her; she’s so lovely. She’s really honest. I trust her, and I find it hard to trust anyone.
H: What did I say the other day, Paul Clarke? If you could have walked into the salon, we could have gone out and everything would just be normal.

You wouldn’t be so well off though, would you?
P: But it’s not about that, is it?

It must be a nice bonus though?
P: But I earn really good money from my job anyway. It’s about a relationship. I sold one story when I came out and three weeks later I’m still in the papers. So I haven’t made that much money out of it.

Helen, do you wish you’d done less press?
H: Yeah, I’m sick of seeing my face on every paper so other people must be sick of it.
P: I’m sick of seeing her face in the papers and not in real life.

So what is it about Paul, Helen?
H: He’s got nice cheekbones [laughs], nice clothes and all my other boyfriends have been shitty. He’s a nice, honest, genuine guy who’s got a lot of respect for me. He’s lush.

In what way were they shitty?
H: Well, you know one sold a story about me, so that’s shitty.
P: I wouldn’t sell a story in a million years. That’s out of line.

Were you at all scared you wouldn’t feel the same when you came out?
H: Nooooo. Mmmm, yeah. I was.

You just said no!
H: No, but I said to Brian, Do you think he’ll be there on Friday and Brian said, “Expect the worse and you’ll be alright.”

I know I’m not meant to talk about Big G, but he must have been hanging over both your exits? Did you think you were coming out to a smack, Paul?
P: Errr...
H: I was worried he was.
P: Well, I thought if it was me watching my girlfriend flirt massively with another guy. I would not have been happy. But I was worried and I apologise because I can’t help my feelings for Helen.

Helen, I’m not allowed to ask if you’ve spoken to Big G, am I?
H:No.

But that is the one thing everyone’s wondering.
H: No, I haven’t spoken to him. There’s no point in going back in my life when I want to go forward.

OK. Paul, you said you wanted “Helen for life”. Is she the one?
P: I’ve had two major relationships in my life and thought I was in love with that person but I can honestly say I have never felt like this about a girl before. I’ve never felt like this before. There’s something here that’s a little bit special

Helen, do you feel Paul is the one?
H: Well, I never looked into a bloke’s eyes before and saw the lights flashing past.

Is that what you see?
H: Uh-uh. Everyone will be thinking, Oh my God, she’s mad.

So you’ve never seen those lights before then?
H: No, I first saw it in the house, I can’t remember exactly when, I reckon it was in week three.
P: It was when I saw how she dealt with her nomination I thought she was pretty cool

Do you worry your relations is a by-product of the show rather than the real thing?
P: The programme allowed me to get to know someone in a way you wouldn’t outside it. So it’s a cool way of getting to know someone, but the feelings outside have grown and are continuing now.

How much have you talked about the future?
H: We haven’t really, we’re just seeing how it goes.
P: But I tell you one thing. Nothing that is written, nothing, is going to split us up.

Do you both want kids?
P: Yeah, that is something that’s been a dream for some years. I’ve got a little brother...
H: He’s not that little, he’s 14. P:Yeah, but there’s 12 years’ difference. But I love children, I love them...
H: You won’t have to give birth to them though, will you? I want to have children too. I want a girl so we can go disco dancing and go to dancing competitions [laughs]. She’d have a nice dancing costume.

So we could have another Big Brother baby [after Tom and Claire’s]?
P: Let’s see what happens. H: [To Paul] Can I just say for most of this interview you’ve talked. I haven’t said much at all.

OK Helen, I’ll ask you some questions. What exactly was “stuff?”
H:The stuff was the lights. It wasn’t sex or anything.

We all thought it was sex.
H: Well, it was the lights and then, it sort of, I don’t know... Paul?
P: Helen, just say it the way it is.

So by stuff you did mean sex?
P: Yeah, it was pretty obvious that we meant sex. There’s no point trying to get around that [laughs].
H: No, but there were two meanings for “stuff”. P: But when Helen said “stuff” she did mean sex...
H: No, I meant the lights.

So there were two meanings?
H: There was “stuff number one ‘~ for the lights and “stuff number two

So there was “stuff number one” in the house but never any chance of “stuff number two”?
P:No.
H:And you’ll never know about “stuff number two” so don’t even go there.

What was the story about the row over Paul’s overnight bag?
P:Well, since we’ve been so busy I was carrying a bag all the time with my clothes in it. I didn’t have the bag because I was thinking I was going to stay with Helen. That’s just petty and ridiculous, it never even went through my mind. I had my bag all the time because I never knew where I was going to be.

So the stories about Helen saying you made her look like a tart are rubbish?
H: They’re just not true. I was upset when I read that. That’s the main thing that’s really upset me.

Your first kiss was very public —on the Big Brother eviction night. What was that like?
H: It just sort of happened really. When I’d finished I thought, “Have I just kissed Paul Clarke or what?” It was a bit of a shock really. Nice though, but a shock. I went to say thank you for my Gucci stuff and things just progressed.
P: I’d been dying to do it for ages so it was good. Very good.

And there’ve been lots of repeat performances since?
H: Yeah.
P: A lot since, yeah.

But no “stuff number two”?
H: [Laughs] Oooiii! You’ve got to mention it again — “stuff number two” haven’t you!

Sorry! And finally, you’ve turned down a small fortune from the tabloids for this interview in favour of heat making a donation to charity. Why?
P: Because we’re not in it to sell a story. We’re doing this to tell the world that we’re a couple in the hope that we’ll now be left alone.
H: We’ve been offered amounts of money to do this which are just ridiculous.
P: But we’ve got to do it, especially after last night because it got completely out of hand. It’s not for the money and if a charity benefits, that’s fantastic.

Heat magazine 25 - 31 August 2001

[hapatus]

Thank you !!!

It was a nice interview !

Hanna

[minni]

Thank you!!!!

[James]

Here is two of the pictures from the magazine:

[Mervi]

You are so good to us! As already mentioned before, we don't get much news on H&P here in Finland, so this site is our saviour. Keep up the good work! Love you!

[Maxine]

Thank you so much, James! What a lovely interview!!

[Romantic Old Bird]

James, I have been trying to find the link for the Rich and Famous TV interview for our Finnish Friends. Can you recall where it is?

[James]

Here it is

http://sja.homeip.net/bb2/

There's a few others there as well.

[Mervi]

The video was great! I wish there were more of them with H&P together!

[Legally blonde]

Awww. It's so nice of you to post these interviews. Thank you

What a lovely interview. They're so cute, aren't they.

*sigh*

[cc100]

Originally posted by James


You must have been pissed off about that, Paul?
P: Oh, very, very much. You don’t like to see someone pulling your girlfriend — I can say that now — by the hair. It’s not on.

dur