[Amy]

The makers of reality TV show Big Brother have chosen a city garage and its staff to star in what it hopes will be its latest blockbuster. Millions of viewers are expected to tune in to see just what goes on behind the scenes amid the inspection pits, oily overalls and monkey wrenches.

Film-maker Endemol UK - who also came up with TV hits The Salon, The Farm, and Scrap Heap Challenge - reckons the award-winning Exminster Garage, just off Matford roundabout on the Exeter-Dawlish road, is the ideal vehicle for its new docu-soap show.

The company contacted the garage's boss Tim Milsom last week to ask if he and his team would be interested in the TV venture.

Mr Milsom said: "I thought it was a cold-call at first, or someone teasing me.

"When I realised the call was genuine, my initial reaction was to think what a fantastic opportunity. I was elated.

"Now, we're being a little more cautious and I have asked to take a bit of time to think it over."

Mr Milsom, who with wife Val has three children - Nichola, 21, Natalie, 18, and Nathan, 12 - said he and his staff wanted time to consult their families before a decision was made.

He said: "It would be very much an in-your-face documentary, so we have to think about the impact on our business and the impact on our lives.

"Right now, we are deciding whether we are all really committed to being involved in something like this.

"That's why it's worth taking time to consider it."

Mr Milsom, who lives with his family in Exminster, agreed the idea of letting a film-crew into the garage was attractive.

He said: "Sometimes working in here can be blood, sweat and tears. I think it would be good to give the public an insight."

He said the garage had been chosen because of the business's first-class reputation. He said: "We have a long pedigree of being quite high-fliers in the independent garage business.

"We won the Motor Trader training award in 2003, beating the likes of Audi and BMW."

A spokesman for Endemol said the programme would entertain, inform and give an insight into what it was like to work in a garage.

He said filming would be comprehensive but not intrusive.

"Obviously, if there is an event happening that affects life in the garage, like someone expecting a baby, then we would want to cover it," he said. "We wouldn't want to be in the delivery room, but we would want to film the happy family when they show the baby off."

Article This Is Exeter

[BusyBee]

What goes on in a garage - nothing compared to what goes on in our office, but as its a solicitors confidentiality would prevent it being filmed. But I could tell you some stories. As we often say if we wrote a book the publishers would return it, saying it was unbelievable and too far fetched. But people really do behave like that. I will leave it to your imagination.