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Low-key start for housemates

Matt Wells, media correspondent
Saturday May 24, 2003

Big Brother would, they said at its launch three years ago, change the face of television. It did, but no one can agree whether it was for better or worse.

For Channel 4, it does not matter. The show is its biggest event and all publicity is good publicity. So last night, after a cloak-and-dagger security operation more akin to a visit by the Queen to Northern Ireland than a routine reality show, the 12 participants in the fourth series were taken to the "house" to begin their stretch under the unrelenting gaze of a TV audience of millions.

Two are from Scotland: Cameron, the oldest at 32, is a fish trader from the Orkney islands; Federico, 23, is a waiter from Glasgow. One contestant, Ray, 25, is from Galway, Ireland.

The youngest is Anouska, a Manchester nursery assistant, who "most admires Nelson Mandela" and says she'll most miss "music, sex, peanut butter and books".

Nush, 23, from Malvern, has her own "soul surgeon", and is one of two vegetarians. The other, Steph, seems to have a more straightforward outlook; she "can't stand arrogance".

This year, Channel 4 tried to play down the fourth appearance of its most successful show. It did not seek pre-launch publicity and advertising has been low key. But this did not stop a tabloid frenzy. The Sun offered Ł50,000 to those who engaged in the show's first sexual coupling - it had to be "boy-girl", which led to a condemnation by the gay lobbyist Stonewall.

The Daily Express said the producers had had trouble finding any participants with a spark of intelligence.

Last night, Channel 4 was lying low, knowing there would be plenty of time to "talk up" the show later.

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