BB's Brian gets Shakespeare role - Mar 18 2008
Big Brother winner Brian Belo is to become a Shakespearean actor for the day.

The reality TV star shocked his fellow housemates when he confessed he's never heard of Shakespeare, but he has now been invited by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to act out a few of the Bard's finest verses at the house where the poet and playwright was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Brian's turn at treading the boards will mark the launch of the organisation's new Shakespeare Aloud initiative, which involves professional actors appearing as some of Shakespeare's most famous characters around Stratford during the Easter holidays.

Lincoln Clarke, head of tourism at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: "Brian's admission on Big Brother that he'd never heard of Shakespeare made us wonder how many other young people are similarly unaware. We tend to take it for granted that everyone has heard of Shakespeare and that they have at least some knowledge of his most famous plays. It is obviously an assumption we should not be making.

"I am delighted Brian has accepted our invitation to visit Stratford and come to the house where he was born. We're also pleased that he has agreed so wholeheartedly to help us in our aim of bringing Shakespeare to young people."

Brian is visiting Shakespeare's Birthplace in Henley Street on Wednesday March 19 where he will coached to recites lines from the Bard's plays and sonnets.

Brian’s awards excitement - Nov 2 2007
Big Brother winner Brian Belo was so excited to be at the National TV Awards, it seems he had to hug presenter Dermot O’Leary.

The 20-year-old, who is still said to be in a relationship with BB twin Amanda Marchant, spotted the Big Brother’s Little Brother host on the red carpet and they shared a cuddle.

Afterwards, he said: "I’ve just been on a ride this year, it’s been like ’great I’m at the Royal Albert Hall at the National TV Awards’. I remember watching this when I was a little kid and now I’m here, it’s just so pukka.

"I’m having a great time and enjoying it completely."

And Brian, who has kept something of a low profile compared to BB’s Chanelle and the twins, added: "I appeared in Hollyoaks and stuff so I’ve just basically been weighing up my options at the moment, so it’s all been really cool."

Meanwhile, BB housemate Zach ’Ziggy’ Lichman revealed he was set to "get into theatre" in a few weeks, adding: "I’ve kind of got myself in the background."

When asked about Chanelle’s modelling, he said: "Hey man, she can do what she wants to do, I don’t own her."


BB’s Brian stars in Hollyoaks - Oct 10 2007
Big Brother winner Brian Belo has admitted he was so excited he "couldn’t sleep" when he landed a role on Hollyoaks.

The reality TV star has been cast as an extra on the soap, and got to spend the day chatting with the stars in Hollyoaks village.

"I can’t believe I’m in Hollyoaks!" he told Heat magazine. "This ranks as one of the top three days of my life. Number one was winning BB, and number two was going out with BB’s Amanda, of course."

Brian said the highlights included meeting Jennifer Metcalfe, who plays sexy Mercedes, and pulling a pint in The Dog pub.

"I got to meet Mercedes - my favourite character!" he gushed.

"Jennifer, who plays her, was really lovely, just as I’d dreamed. When she said I could sit on her bed in the McQueens’ house, I was like, game on!"

He added: "I nearly fainted when I went into The Dog!"