BAND OF BROTHERS Mar 1 2004
Exclusive: TV pals go out on town and end up with big hangover
By Mark Mcgivern
THE stars of Big Brother have been enjoying a wild Scottish reunion.
The gang who forged friendships in the forced confinement of the last series have been celebrating in the great outdoors.
The stars of Channel 4's reality TV show spend boozy weekends together despite fame changing their lives.
I joined Orkney fish worker Cameron Stout, Glasgow waiter Federico Martone, Londoner Harjinder 'Gos' Gosal, computer geek Jon Tickle and Scouser Scott Turner on a lads' weekend as they got stuck into paintball, quad biking, go-karting and boozing.
The boys were guests of motormouth Federico, who treated them to dinner at his dad's Glasgow restaurant, Pulcinella, after their day out.
Fed, 23, said: 'People write Big Brother off as a reality TV gimmick but we are all real people with real lives.
'Each one of the guys in the house bonded and we are genuinely good mates. We have very different characters but we genuinely enjoy meeting up and having a laugh.
'This weekend was gratuitous boys' fun and we will be doing the same again in the near future.'
The impact of the experience and TV exposure has been different for them all.
Fed, who is best remembered for calling northern girls 'slags', is single and has presented slots on Beat 106 as well as making several TV appearances.
Scott, 28, who was single when he went on the show and got close to housemate Nush, is now in a relationship and has changed jobs from marketing to writing.
He said: 'We have all met up in twos or threes but it's great to see everyone together as a group.'
The show may have been all about winning but the BB gang showed their team spirit when they took on a stag party at Skirmish paintball near Livingston, west Lothian.
They didn't pick up any war medals there and similarly failed to be covered in glory after a haphazard time at quad biking provided by Lookout Services.
But they were big on laughs and competed to set the slowest ever lap time recorded at Scotkart in Cambuslang, near Glasgow.
During their break, the boys were constantly stopped to sign autographs by fans.
Cameron, 33, who is best remembered for his Christianity and virginity, is still single but his life has changed dramatically.
The former fish worker, who is now busy with TV and radio appearances and enjoyed a run in panto, said: 'It's hard to get your head around what is happening.
'As far as we are concerned, we are just the same guys who went into the house.
'Whenever I see one of the boys on TV or in a newspaper, I think, 'I know him' as thought it's something special.'
Gos, best remembered for cooking meals in the BB house, is a qualified chef who is still cooking and writing about food and making TV and radio appearances.
However, he is looking to buy a fish and chip shop with his partner Stacey.
But maybe Jon will have the last laugh. The single 30-year-old, who was best known for annoying his housemates (and viewers), has just been voted among Britain's50most eligible bachelors.
During their weekend the boys were driven around in a white limousine, supplied by Glasgow firm 24-7 American Limos.
Driver Alan said: 'The guys were a great bunch and it's obvious that they have known each other for some time. They were real gentlemen.'
Big Brother Five is due to hit the screens later this year.
(thought this deserved more prominence-courtesy of DNSM and the Daily Record)
Exclusive: TV pals go out on town and end up with big hangover
By Mark Mcgivern
THE stars of Big Brother have been enjoying a wild Scottish reunion.
The gang who forged friendships in the forced confinement of the last series have been celebrating in the great outdoors.
The stars of Channel 4's reality TV show spend boozy weekends together despite fame changing their lives.
I joined Orkney fish worker Cameron Stout, Glasgow waiter Federico Martone, Londoner Harjinder 'Gos' Gosal, computer geek Jon Tickle and Scouser Scott Turner on a lads' weekend as they got stuck into paintball, quad biking, go-karting and boozing.
The boys were guests of motormouth Federico, who treated them to dinner at his dad's Glasgow restaurant, Pulcinella, after their day out.
Fed, 23, said: 'People write Big Brother off as a reality TV gimmick but we are all real people with real lives.
'Each one of the guys in the house bonded and we are genuinely good mates. We have very different characters but we genuinely enjoy meeting up and having a laugh.
'This weekend was gratuitous boys' fun and we will be doing the same again in the near future.'
The impact of the experience and TV exposure has been different for them all.
Fed, who is best remembered for calling northern girls 'slags', is single and has presented slots on Beat 106 as well as making several TV appearances.
Scott, 28, who was single when he went on the show and got close to housemate Nush, is now in a relationship and has changed jobs from marketing to writing.
He said: 'We have all met up in twos or threes but it's great to see everyone together as a group.'
The show may have been all about winning but the BB gang showed their team spirit when they took on a stag party at Skirmish paintball near Livingston, west Lothian.
They didn't pick up any war medals there and similarly failed to be covered in glory after a haphazard time at quad biking provided by Lookout Services.
But they were big on laughs and competed to set the slowest ever lap time recorded at Scotkart in Cambuslang, near Glasgow.
During their break, the boys were constantly stopped to sign autographs by fans.
Cameron, 33, who is best remembered for his Christianity and virginity, is still single but his life has changed dramatically.
The former fish worker, who is now busy with TV and radio appearances and enjoyed a run in panto, said: 'It's hard to get your head around what is happening.
'As far as we are concerned, we are just the same guys who went into the house.
'Whenever I see one of the boys on TV or in a newspaper, I think, 'I know him' as thought it's something special.'
Gos, best remembered for cooking meals in the BB house, is a qualified chef who is still cooking and writing about food and making TV and radio appearances.
However, he is looking to buy a fish and chip shop with his partner Stacey.
But maybe Jon will have the last laugh. The single 30-year-old, who was best known for annoying his housemates (and viewers), has just been voted among Britain's50most eligible bachelors.
During their weekend the boys were driven around in a white limousine, supplied by Glasgow firm 24-7 American Limos.
Driver Alan said: 'The guys were a great bunch and it's obvious that they have known each other for some time. They were real gentlemen.'
Big Brother Five is due to hit the screens later this year.
(thought this deserved more prominence-courtesy of DNSM and the Daily Record)
)
