[James]

Reality bites for Big Brother contestants

Chris Tryhorn
Wednesday August 11, 2004

Nadia: thought to have decided tabloid deals were not for her

It was the prize this year's Big Brother contestants were all hoping for - a lucrative celebrity career unfolding before them after their attention-seeking stint in the house.

For the four who stayed in the house until the final on Friday, the expectations of fame and money would have been highest. After all, surely that was the point of enduring alcohol-fuelled brawls, prison-type restrictions and goldfish bowl living in front of cameras 24 hours a day.

But it seems that the biggest pot of gold has already been claimed - by lovebirds Michelle Bass and Stuart Wilson, who have made more than £200,000 between them so far thanks to the generosity of OK! magazine's boss, Richard Desmond. But even their reward is dwarfed by the £1m Big Brother 3 contestant Jade Goody is reckoned to have made over the past two years from interviews with celebrity magazines.

For this year's winner, Nadia Almada, the chances of making similar gains to Michelle and Stuart are slim - despite her success in winning the heart of the nation and claiming the £63,500 champion's cheque.

She decided not to conduct any newspaper interviews on the night of her eviction and has, according to journalists in the know, decided tabloids - where all the money can be made - are not for her.

"She was nervous and a bit concerned that her story was not told in a sensational way and there would not have been an opportunity to turn something [more considered] around," said Catherine Lister, who is handling requests for press interviews at John Noel management.

Almada's agent John Noel - who is representing Michelle and Stuart, as well as earlier evictee Victor Ebuwa - has, however, secured her an interview with Heat magazine, to be published next week.

But this, sources say, is worth just £30,000 - an awful lot to Heat magazine, but not a lot compared to the payment made to Stuart or Michelle, or the money earned by some contestants on Big Brother 3.

In fact now the excitement has died down, it appears that the money on offer from tabloids is a lot lower than previous years as editors realise that the finalists did not have the magic ingredients to push papers.

The Sunday Mirror's "world exclusive" interview at the weekend with Nadia was actually based on a press conference and cost nothing to acquire.

The biggest earner of the three runners-up on Friday so far is art student Shell Jubin, who surprised many by doing glamour shots in the Star. The deal is believed to have been worth £30,000 and also includes a slot in Richard Desmond's celebrity magazine, New.

Shell also stands to collect from a forthcoming appearance in IPC's lads' weekly, Nuts

She is still being represented by the Outside Organisation, which handles all the housemates for the first fortnight after they have left the house until they are snapped up by an agent.

But Shell has not been approached with definitive offers from agents and is believed to be planning a return to normal student life as a postgraduate.

Another journalist remarked on how "deluded" the contestants were about their worth outside the house.

Hairdresser Dan Bryan spoke exclusively to Sunday's News of the World but got just £6,000.

His agent, Tony Fox, said the interest in his client included "offers and tentative approaches".

Mr Fox said he had picked Dan out as a "gifted communicator - charismatic, with an intelligent head on his shoulders and the ability to convey a personality."

The agent's only previous Big Brother client is Big Brother 3's Spencer Smith, who has just made a round-the-world fishing programme for the Discovery channel.

"The fact is, if they don't have another story to tell they aren't worth anything. Jason [Cowan, the show's runner-up] is obviously interesting because of his mother [who had him adopted] and his disappearance after the show. He was obviously not happy with what he saw when he came out, which makes him more attractive as an interview," said one journalist.

Cowan declined offers to speak out immediately after the show and refused to turn up at the reunion party, instead checking out of his hotel to return, it is believed, to Scotland.

But it is understood he is giving an interview later today to the News of the World and Closer magazine in a deal thought to be worth £8,000.

His agent, Carina Trimingham, said he had waited to speak to his biological mother, who came forward after he left the house, before making media appearances.

One field in which the Scottish bodybuilder could find work is in endorsing gyms or personal training.

Ms Trimingham said Jason had rung her personally asking her to represent him on Sunday evening, after he had skipped the housemates' reunion barbecue.

Apart from Dan, Jason and the housemates being represented by John Noel, none of the other housemates - Kitten Pinder, Emma Greenwood, Marco Sabba, Vanessa Nimmo, Ahmed Aghil and Becki Sedicki - is thought to have been signed up by an agent.

Media Guardian

[jimfloyd]

and some of this is wrong so can't really trust the rest fo it

[kaphc]

Seems like a well-written article to me - which bits are wrong, Jim? You can tell us!

[Red Moon]

I just can't see Dan not doing well out of this.... he is gifted and so cool in front of a camera he must have furture in the media if he wants it.

[bananarama]

With any luck Dan will vanish into the sun set. Sooner the better......

[Deus Ex Machina]

Dan's dull - what's he going to say that will shock the nation?

There's nothing unusual about him, which means he's worth diddly...

[Julia L]

Well, Dan appeals to loads of people and he's had offers for TV presenting amongst other things so obviously talent agents think he's entertaining

[golden~rose]

agree dans had alot of offers, i think the winner should do something for herself to. she hast even appeared on magazine or photoshoots yet, im hoping next week nadia does!!!