Another year and yet another series of Celebrity Big Brother took over the nation’s living rooms and television schedules.
But after the controversy that surrounded the 2007 series of the show, the year that saw Jade Goody and Jo O’Meara make racist and bullying remarks about fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty, Channel 4 subsequently decided to not run a series in 2008. This led to speculation that the show might be axed altogether.
So when a new series was announced many thought it would be a low-profile affair with a stripped down celebrity roster, a toe in the water to see if the formula still drew viewers.
But when the show finally aired in January 2009 it surprised many of its critics by having a celebrity cast that included a number of particularly famous faces including: rapper Coolio, former Sugababes star Mutya Buena and actor Verne Troyer.
Amongst these more widely known figures there was one man who known by none, former Scottish socialist politician Tommy Sheridan.
“I was definitely in a position where I just didn’t know these people” explained Tommy. “Which was great because they certainly didn’t know me!”
Whilst in the house the sole Scotsman struck up friendships with a number of his fellow housemates, including former Word presenter Terry Christian and the show’s most controversial contestant Coolio.
The lawyer in training admitted that endearing himself to the public was not his motive for entering the Big Brother house but rather to earn enough money to continue his education.
“It was a well-paid job. It’s been well trailed that I’m doing a law course and it cost £16,500 pounds…I was offered a job that allowed me to pay for my legal course.”
Several years ago Tommy was made a similar offer to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, but turned it down; feeling that his appointment as a publicly elected politician made an appearance on the hit TV show inappropriate.
