A drag queen, a mother-of-nine and a couple who are getting married in March were among the hundreds of hopefuls who turned out for the auditions for the Channel Four reality show Big Brother at the RDS earlier today.
The show, now in its 10th series, has shown no sign of dimming in popularity and there was no shortage of prospective Irish housemates who queued patiently to impress the producers from the series.
They estimate they will see between 10,000 and 15,000 wannabe housemates by the end of the month which will be whittled down to no more than 20 by the time the series starts in May.
Undeterred by seven previous rejections, the mother-of-nine and grandmother Olivia Reid (54) from Dundalk, Co Louth, turned up for today’s auditions wearing curlers in her hair and an apron. She also had a mop bucket in tow.
“My family are reared now. This is my space now, this is my life, this is just me. I played badminton last weekend and beat my own son,” she said.
“They (my family) don’t even know I’m here. I never tell them. I get on well with everybody. I’m just me and laughter is the best medicine in the world.”
Also making an entrance at today’s auditions was strikingly tall drag queen Davina Devine (25) who glammed up for the occasion and clearly made an impression on producers who pulled her from the queue for a face-to-face interview.
“I’m getting into that house if it’s the last thing I do. I’m getting out of this recession. That’s my motto,” she said. “You have to razzle-dazzle on a day like today. We need to look fabulous and that’s what I’m looking.”
Engaged couple Geraldine Matthews (32) and her fiancé John Gray (28), both from Blanchardstown in Dublin turned up in borrowed wedding gear for the auditions.
The couple are getting married on March 21st and have answered a dare from radio station 98FM as part of a competition to win a €20,000 wedding.
“I’m hoping it’s going to be our year,” said Geraldine, an investment banker with JP Morgan who still has a job. “I’m addicted to Big Brother I’m watching Celebrity Big Brother at the moment.
“We’re hoping to be the first married couple in Big Brother, If they just pick me I’d go in, if they pick him I’d let him go in.”
Prospective candidates were invited to play a series of games and also to role play and those who impressed the producers were called for a three-minute interview.
Those who pass that stage will be called to interviews in London for the final auditions.
Big Brother series editor Adam Barry said: “The biggest advice is be yourself, don’t be whacky or crazy. Don’t come along and think the producers are looking for this. We’re not.
“Some of the best housemates may not be loudest or the whackiest. If you come in wearing a kilt or a wig, we’ll ask you to take them off.”
