[LEE]

I've just received an email from Dean

Ages ago when I interviewed him you may recall that he said he was intending writing a book all about his experiences on BB - well he has finally done it.

This is what he has to say about it

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Living In The Box: An Adventure In Reality TV an explosive new book lifts the lid on Big Brother by former housemate Dean O’Loughlin, exclusively available on Ebay.co.uk from Friday 21st May, £4.99

With one week to go before Big Brother 5 kicks off and twelve sacrificial lambs once again offer themselves up to the altar of entertainment, Dean O’Loughlin, a participant in Big Brother 2, publishes the world’s first, no-holds-barred exposé of life inside the Big Brother house. 'Living In The Box: An Adventure In Reality TV' is told from the unique perspective of someone who volunteered, was selected, became a housemate, endured public scrutiny and media demonisation, and ultimately survived to tell his story. Three years in the writing, the book is a frank, honest and compelling account of what really happened behind the Big Brother walls in 2001 – the year the series was best remembered for the burgeoning on-screen relationship between Helen and Paul, the histrionics of eventual winner Brian Dowling, and the general consensus that this was television history in the making.

The show’s creators, Endemol, seek to discourage housemates from revealing Big Brother secrets by tying them into legal contracts. Since Dean could not find a publisher willing to risk incurring Endemol’s wrath, he has decided to publish the book himself. Released tomorrow (Friday May 21st), 'Living In The Box' is therefore only available to buy from the website Ebay.co.uk and is priced at £4.99 (plus P+P).

So, with Series Five about to hit our screens, the second runner-up from Big Brother 2 reveals (amongst other things):

· secret diary room conversations that weren’t televised
· how ‘creative editing’ distorted the truth of what was seen on TV
· the coercion, manipulation and emotional blackmail imposed to boost ratings
· the inadequate aftercare given to the housemates and their families
· how the pressures of instant fame, however brief, alter everyday life

Plus, with never-before-published intimate revelations about housemates, both in front of and away from the cameras, as well as rare insights into the UK’s modern media machine, Living In The Box is a must-read, not only for fans of Big Brother, but also for those with just a passing interest in reality TV and its cultural implications.

Dean comments: “I always get nervous around this time of year as another batch of naïfs takes on the challenge of Big Brother. They honestly believe they’ve an equal chance of winning £70K, but the truth is that each is picked to play a pre-designated role from which, thanks to careful editing, they can never stray too far. In writing Living In The Box I set out to tell people the truth and explain that onscreen events are merely distortions of what actually happens in the house. Quite simply, I wrote this book to expose the reality of Reality TV.”