Granny battles with wannabes for Big Brother

A MOTHER of nine was among the more than 500 wannabes who yesterday tried to battle their way into the Big Brother house.

Grandmother Olivia Reid made her seventh attempt to win a spot on the reality television show, the 10th series of which hits our screens in May.

Dressed as a cleaning lady, the 54-year-old vowed to polish up her act at an open audition in Dublin’s RDS.

She previously wore a nun’s costume and once arrived as Barbie’s mother to try and get a place in the house.

“I had my children young, I’ve my family reared, now it’s my turn to give something back to the world,” said Ms Reid.

“I hope they pick me. I would love to do something like this. But this is the last time I’ll try.”

As the hopefuls waited to audition for a place in the show, scores of serious looking students queued nearby to sit a Royal College of Physicians exam in an adjoining hall.

Gerry Walls from Belfast left his drag act, Tina Leggs Tantrum, at home for the day. The 41-year-old, who was recently crowned Britain’s Next Top Drag Queen and hosts the Sunday Bingo Show in Belfast’s Kremlin bar, said he wanted to show his true side.

“I work six days a week at Tina, it’s my day off,” he said. “As a drag queen people expect a big ego, big feathers and big hair. They don’t expect a normal, fit, intelligent and down-to-earth man.”

A select few were picked for a thorough hour-long registration process, and only then did the best get to enter a secret video booth to make their bid for fame and fortune.

Some lucky hopefuls who stood out from the crowd were plucked straight from the queue.

They included Davina Devine, a 25-year-old, stunning Dublin drag queen, and friend Louise Dunne, 25, a make-up artist and aspiring actress.

“I’m getting into that house if it’s the last thing I do, I’m getting out of this recession,” said Davina, who kept his real identity under wraps.

With those chosen from the Dublin audition called back tonight, staff on the show will be working well into the early hours.

Series editor Adam Barry said his father, from Cork, was putting pressure on him to have an Irish contestant this year.

“We’ve had some fantastic Irish housemates in the past and I think they tend to bring a humour and a seriousness that maybe lacks,” he said.

“We’re just looking for interesting characters, someone who has something to say and has a spark.”