Big Brother's Bit On The Side

10 September 2011

Question: How do we know that the new Channel 5 version of Big Brother is properly underway?
Answer: Aisleyne has appeared on a BB spin-off show!

Five years after BB7 Aisleyne has stressed that she feels she has moved on from the "ex-Big Brother" label, and is now well known for many other accomplishments in films, TV, books and fashion design.

But in response to many pleas from fans on forums and via Twitter, and requests by makers Endemol, she agreed to make an appearance on Big Brother's Bit on the Side (BBBOTS) on Saturday 10th September, less than 24 hours after the launch of Channel 5's first "civilian" version of Big Brother.

Aisleyne was one of a panel of four guest stars voicing their opinions about the newly installed housemates, and exchanging banter with host Alice Levine (weekend stand-in for Emma Willis) and the usual studio audience.

Aisleyne had been especially excited at the prospect of meeting fellow guest Paddy Doherty, the newly crowned winner of C5's first Celebrity Big Brother. The other panellists were Patrick Monahan, recent winner of ITV's "Show Me The Funny", and Jamie East aka Holy Moly (yes, THAT Holy Moly!). No contest for Ash in the glamour stakes then, though she had of course made sure she was looking good in a boldly striped and very short little number, and her current favourite Louboutins (with the "lucky red soles"!)

Alice introduced Aisleyne as "a strong independent wo-man" and "one of the most popular housemates never to win the show" neither of which descriptions we would disagree with.

In between various off-beat programme segments the panellists gave their first impressions of the new housemates and the early events in the house.

Aisleyne was clearly enjoying sitting between the two Patricks (even though Mr Monahan had inadvertently called her "Alesha"!) and, as usual, more than held her own in the general cut-and-thrust of debate.

Alice was particularly interested in hearing from Aisleyne about housemate Anton Murphy, as the Daily Star had mentioned her name in its housemate pen-picture of him. Aisleyne confirmed that they were indeed friends, spoke of him as her "little pal" and said that he was "cool".

Aisleyne also gave her views on some of the other housemates, drawing on her own "insider experience". For example, she said that housemate Heaven was "motherising herself" which was a "a dangerous game. She's trying too hard."

In a later segment Aisleyne was given a "security refresher interview" by a rather rude "guard dog", which ended with her removing one her Louboutins to hit the dirty beast on the head. (Animal lovers please note - NOT a REAL dog!)

The show was brought to a close with Jamie East reading a "Bedtime Story", which turned out to be an extract from Aisleyne's book! Aisleyne later tweeted him a compliment, saying that he read it "rather well".

<< Back