BB10 FAQs                                                                                     <<

1. How old do I need to be in order to apply for Big Brother 10?
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by around late-May 2009. To clarify: no-one under the age of 18 will be allowed to enter the House, however there's no upper age limit. If you don't turn 18 until, say, June, July or August of 2009, normally we'd say: 'Forget it'. However, as Big Brother 10 could well be the last series, you could try auditioning if you want, even though it probably won't be worth it because you wouldn't be allowed to enter the House at the start of the series. There's a chance you could become a standby contestant though.

2. Do I need to fill-in an Application Form before attending an audition?
No, simply choose the venue nearest to you from the pop-up list of Audition Venues and Dates (link here), and try to get there as early as you can on the relevant day. Auditions start early in the morning and you just need to join the queue along with everyone else. If you get any further, and the producers are sufficiently interested in you, only then might you be required to complete an application form.

3. I need to travel quite some distance in-order to attend an audition, so will everyone be seen by the producers?
Essentially, yes. The producers will use various methods to get potential BB10 housemates chatting, including putting people into groups or pairs and asking them why they should go further, or asking them to talk about their (audition) partner in an interesting manner. Just to re-iterate, not everyone will make it to the next stage; only those people in-whom the producers are sufficiently interested will be invited to participate, and everyone else will be sent home.

4. Are the producers looking for specific types of person this year?
They always refute this, however we can't help feeling that the production team looks to fill predetermined character roles each season. However, just remember to be yourself and then you'll portray your real personality; it's not an acting audition after all.

5. I see that the auditions start early in the morning, but I can't make it until the afternoon. Is it worth me coming?
Well, someone's got to be at the back of the queue! You should be fine, but we can't guarantee that you'll be seen if you turn-up late in the day. It's obviously best to take time off your work/ family commitments and get there as early as you can on the day. That way, even if you have to wait around, you can soak-up the atmosphere, have a chat with other fans and prepare yourself for the audition. Just don't turn-up at 8pm in the evening expecting to be seen.

6. Is it essential to attend the audition venue nearest to my home town?
No, you are free to attend any of the auditions, no matter where you live in the country. This gives you an opportunity to come along even if you missed the geographically nearest audition. That said, please endeavour to attend your nearest audition if you can. You can also attend more than one audition if you feel the need.

7. What should I bring with me to the audition?
Depending on how well you do and how many people turn-up, it could be a long day. Therefore, it's best to bring light food such as sandwiches, crisps and some non-alcoholic drink, along with warm clothing and a comfy pair of shoes. You MUST bring photo ID with you to bear-out your identity and age – a passport or driving licence is ideal. Be warned: if you don't have any ID you'll be refused entry and will have wasted your time.

There will always be auditionees who take comedy 'props' or silly outfits with them, and that may work for you. Don't forget though, you can always change into your costume when the time comes. In other words, it's really cold at the moment so we don't recommend standing around all day in a leotard or Tarzan outfit!

8. I've applied/ auditioned for Big Brother UK before, but I didn't get anywhere. Or, I was recalled to attend the later auditions but eventually got dropped by the production team. Can I try again?
Yes, of course you can. In fact, many former Big Brother UK contestants tried time-and-time again to get on the show, and eventually succeeded. To re-iterate: you're welcome to attend as many auditions, at as many different venues, as you wish. Just don't blame us if you get overlooked every single time; it's entirely possible!

9. What happens after I’ve auditioned/ applied?
As always, only successful applicants will remain in contact with the producers regarding the possibility of becoming a BB housemate in 2009. To clarify, those people that the production team are not interested-in (by default, the majority of applicants) simply won't hear back.

Basically, you must accept that you have not been called back if you haven't heard anything within around 6/8 weeks of attending the first audition or uploading your application Video to YouTube. Rest assured, the production team will try hard to contact you if they're interested. That goes for all stages of the selection process, so please DO NOT contact us to check your progress at any point over the coming weeks and months. We genuinely can't help or advise you.

10. I need to bring my child with me to the audition, or a friend for support. Will they be allowed to come into the venue with me?
There's no official line on this, but we can't imagine the producers making kids stand outside on their own. Adults, maybe? That said, it's very unlikely that anyone else will be allowed into the Diary Rooms with you, so do you really want to leave a minor hanging around on their own inside the venue? To be honest, it would be best to attend on your own, unless the person that you're coming-with is auditioning too. Certainly there won't be a any crèche facilities or chaperones available.

11. Can disabled, deaf or blind people audition for the show?
Of course. Why not? Channel 4 insists that everyone is welcome to apply for Big Brother, although obviously they would have to make changes to the Big Brother House to cater for certain disabilities. Still, celebrity dwarf Verne Troyer is set to appear on Celebrity Big Brother 6, and they will likely have made some concessions for him, even if it's just offering an alternative to the entry/ exit stairs. Also, a blind contestant (Mikey Hughes) came second during Big Brother 9 in the summer of 2008.

If you think that BB fans would be interested in watching you for three months this summer, then go for it. What we're saying here is that you should definitely consider applying if you're an interesting character, but not just because you've got a disability and want to make some kind of politically correct statement.

The audition venues should all have disabled access, but if you want to confirm this in advance, or need to make special arrangements or require a sign language interpreter, please call 08445 768586 and leave your name, phone number and details of the kind of assistance you require. This number is NOT for general enquiries about the audition process and any such messages will be ignored. You can also send an e-mail to: BB10Specialrequirements@endemoluk.com.

12. I'm planning to go on holiday this summer; shall I still audition?
Only if you're prepared to forego your holiday in the event that it clashes with Big Brother 10. Don't forget, if successful you'll sign a contract to appear as a contestant on the show. Obviously then, you'll need to be available for around 15 weeks this summer (approximately mid-May to early-September 2009).

Therefore, you will probably miss your holiday if chosen, but it's true to say that you could attend a few rounds of auditions and still not get chosen as a housemate. Whether you book a holiday and take the risk is up to you – if you book/ pay for a holiday now and subsequently become a contestant, you will NOT be reimbursed for any money that you lose.

13. Will I be reimbursed for costs incurred in travelling to an audition? Also, will I be paid anything for appearing on the show?
No, you won't be paid anything for attending an audition. You must be willing to take the risk yourself in terms of time taken off work, travelling costs etc.

If you make it into the BB House and become a contestant on Big Brother 10, we understand that you'll be paid a nominal fee for every week you appear on the show. This is to help you pay your rent and household bills, and would be something in the region of £200 per week, but don't quote us on that!

14. I don't live in the UK but I've seen the show and would like to apply. Is this feasible?
There's no official word on this one, but unless you have a Permit in place that allows you to be here for several months this summer, it isn't going to be feasible.

Actually, because there was something of a controversy when Makosi Musambasi appeared on Big Brother 6 when she should have been working as a nurse during the 2005 season, the production team probably won't be keen to touch anyone who's not a long-term resident of the UK again. That's just our personal opinion though, not the official line.

NB. Admittedly, not many do, but if you're travelling from another country especially for the Big Brother 10 auditions, please bear in mind FAQ points No. 9 and 13 above.

15. I've just realised that I missed all of the BB10 auditions and I'm totally gutted. What are my chances of getting a private audition?
Absolutely none. Apart from the fact that it would be totally unfair to those who bothered to attend the national open auditions, the production team won't have time once they've ended. At that stage, they'll be busy whittling the numbers down via group auditions for the people they've already selected.

16. I've missed all the auditions and also the cut-off date for uploading vids to YouTube; is there anything else I can do?
No. If you miss all the auditions, which end on the 7th of February 2009, and haven't uploaded an application video by the 3rd of February 2009, it's all over for you. No disrespect, but please don't e-mail us begging for an audition after the last one has taken place. It simply ain't gonna' happen!

17. You mention a 'pop-up' in point No. 2, but when I click the relevant link for the Audition Venues and Dates, nothing comes up. Why is that?
That's because you're using a pop-up blocker on your PC – not always a good idea as there are some legitimate reasons for using pop-up windows.

If you use Internet Explorer and have Windows XP with Service Pack 2 installed, you automatically get a pop-up blocker. If turned on, you should see a message near the top of the screen telling you that a pop-up has been blocked and giving an option to allow it. If not, then go to 'Tools' / 'Pop-up Blocker' at the top of the page, and select the option to allow pop-ups from the Big Brother Online site. You will then be able to see the pop-up when you click the aforementioned link again.

If you're using dedicated blocking software, or have downloaded a Google or Yahoo toolbar with a built-in blocking facility, you will need to follow a similar procedure. You should be able to switch-off the option to block pop-up windows, or to allow certain 'trusted' sites like the BBO website.

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