In an exclusive interview Joe Masi speaks to Big Brother’s Kris Donnelly at the home of his county rival - Freddie Fisher.
The crazy world of Big Brother descended on Market Drayton last night as Kris Donnelly and the crew of Big Brother’s Little Brother came to meet the parents of our own Freddie Fisher.
Now fans of Big Brother 10 will know that, inside the house, the relationship between the two Shropshire boys was strained at best.
Kris is famous for declaring that the nation would be “mad” to evict him when he was up against his Shropshire rival. He also declared that he “could not tolerate” the Market Drayton reality TV star.
Now as a Big Brother fan I turned up last night ready to give Kris both barrels. However before I tell you how he won me around, and he did – I actually think I’m now a fan; I will give you an insight into the crazy world of a Big Brother contestant after they leave the house.
Turning up fashionably late Kris arrived with his crew and comedian Lee Kern. After stepping out from the car one of the crew opened an umbrella and held it over him. If Barrack Obama had stepped from the car I may have expected him to have an umbrella person/holder – But Kris from Big Brother – really?
Unfortunately the details of what Kris and Freddie’s family got up to in Oakley Hall have been embargoed by Channel 4 until it the footage has been shown on Big Brother’s Little Brother.
However after an initial meet and greet Kris said he wouldn’t be able to speak to me without permission from his agent.
The ‘agent’ seemed to think I would be willing to pay for my interview. I wasn’t.
It turns out that Kris has quite a lot of money coming his way through future interviews with the national press and magazines. After a small dispute I was told I could speak to Kris but on the agent’s terms – so much for freedom of the press.
It was at this point that Kris’ actions began to surprise me. Incredibly apologetic Kris himself admitted the system was crazy and that he would do all he could to speak to me. As the camera crews rolled, taking roughly 45 minutes to produce 30 seconds of film, Kris made an effort to let me know he knew I was there and that he would speak to me as soon as he could. After six hours of waiting I got my five minutes.
“I’m really pleased to be here and so grateful to the Fishers for letting me come around,” Kris said. “As soon as they said they wanted to do it I told my agent it was something I really wanted to do. They are all so lovely.”
By this stage Kris’ apologetic nature and general friendliness for everyone he came across was beginning to win me around.
However it was when speaking about the Fishers that you could see Kris’ genuine side. From what has been shown on television many people would not give Kris the time of day. When the person he is being horrible to is your son – you have every right to have nothing to do with him.
The Fishers are different. Rather than hold what has happened against Kris they invited him into their home and made him feel incredibly welcome.
In the Big Brother house it amazed many viewers how Freddie has managed to keep himself smiling and in control. Faced constantly with eviction and being made a scapegoat by housemates such as Lisa, Kris and Karly, a lot of people have commented on how well he has managed to keep things together.
After one meeting with his parents you can see why he has managed to keep that control. Rather than hold grudges the Fishers’ would rather build bridges – a characteristic I find hugely admirable. And after yesterday’s events I have no doubt that Kris and the Fishers will become good friends.
“Looking back I can see why some people think it was bullying,” said Kris on his actions towards Freddie. “But it wasn’t we were just having some banter. I think this year the show has suffered from not having a live feed. Freddie annoyed me 20 per cent of the time but we had a lot of fun together, which, unfortunately, hasn’t been shown.”
So does he think he and Freddie can be friends on the outside?
“Absolutely,” he said. I think the family are really lovely and we don’t live far away I’m definitely coming back. There will be a lot going on in the next few weeks but we will all be going out together as a group to different things.”
Unfortunately Kris wasn’t allowed to say who he thinks will win but he believes Freddie has a great chance. “He is really popular on the outside and very entertaining to watch – I think he has a big chance.
“When I came out of the house everyone was chanting his name. He has calmed down a lot in the last week. I wouldn’t have nominated him this week and none of the other housemates did. I think he just got used to being up and started not to care – he can definitely win it.”
As the interview ended Kris said he would like to go back to Shrewsbury to see his sister and Nan who he had yet to visit since leaving the house. With the Channel 4 crew keen to get back to London and living in Shrewsbury myself, I offered Kris a lift – which he duly accepted.
Unfortunately the lads from Channel 4 felt it was a bad idea to let Kris travel home with a local reporter. Apparently he needs protecting from people like me.
Pulling away from the Fisher family home, the crew realised they had no idea where they were going and ended up following me back anyway – a wasted trip but I’m sure Channel 4 can afford the petrol.
When I got in I had been transformed from a Kris hater to a mini fan. However, I realised by not holding a grudge it was the Fishers who had given him the opportunity to show his true colours.
So he won me around, Kris Donnelly is a nice lad – but not as nice as Freddie!
Joe Masi writes a regular weekly blog published every Monday on www.marketdraytonadvertiser.com.
