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Richard Newman – Sexual Terrorist Or Sexy Cowboy

Posted Saturday 27th June 2009by Editor

One Nation Magazine caught up with Big Brother star Richard Newman to talk, controversy, Madonna and photography…

Well of course we really have to start with Big Brother 7, what made you enter, and what advice would you give to people who want to go for it?

Well I did it strictly for the prize money. I really didn’t have much in the way of savings and saw it as an opportunity to create a better life for myself. I was also a secret Big Brother fan and really wanted to become a part of it’s legacy.
What would you say was your best memory from the show and what would you say you learnt about yourself?
I have a lot of good memories from the show. Celebrating my 34th (Cough!) birthday in the house, and with the nation was quite memorable. My Madonna theme party was such a surprise. I had Tickets to Madonna’s Confessions Tour that week and I was up for eviction that Friday, so my staying or going would determine if I got to see Madonna or not. I survived that week and my flat mate had to sell my ticket.

Are you still in touch with any of your fellow contestant, like Glyn, Suzy and Nikki?

Yes, quite a few actually. Lea, Suzy & Glyn from my year are very close friends. I don’t really talk to any of the others though. We’ve just lost touch! I have become very close friends with Gerry from BB8. We party a lot, he’s such great fun to hang out with.

With all the recent controversy over Big Brother what do you think the shows future holds and where do you think the producers are going wrong?

Well I don’t find anything controversial when it comes to television anymore. I mean it’s all really been done. I do believe people are tiring of reality TV and TV in general. More people are moving to the internet for their entertainment. There are all these wonderful sites where you can download online amateur TV stuff and Podcasts. It’s great. Each year Big Brother suffers in the ratings. More and more people are tuning out. I believe they are just getting bored. I don’t think it’s a reflection on the producers or Big Brother itself. It’s just that you can’t hammer something out every year and not expect people to drift. However Big Brother still puts on a great show.

Do you think Big Brother perceived you as the real person you are, and did you hold back at all?

Well I do believe that Big Brother can’t make you out to be something you’re not. I’m very happy with how I behaved during my time in the house. I really was just myself, not always perfect, but I was myself. I tried to just have as much fun as I possibly could each and every day. It’s not always easy as you suffer greatly from boredom, and then there’s the situation of living with people you really don’t like. This is where I held back. I really had to bite my tongue at times. I really could have torn into some of my fellow housemates for inappropriate behavior. But I knew, if I lashed out in such away It would have been used against me in the editing.

What secret can you let slip about behind the scenes of Big Brother?

Well there aren’t really any secrets. For the viewers it’s just a group of people living in a fabulous House. But if you pull back the cameras, the reality is the Housemates are living on a television set. You can’t see all the lighting cables, hear all the workmen walking across the roof, moving in task equipment. Time folds in for the viewers, but for the Housemates – well, we can be locked in a room for 4 hours while tasks are being set up, equipment checked, long days indeed. It’s not all as it appears.

If you could pick six celebrities for a Celebrity Big Brother whom would you choose and what would their first task be?

Well If I can throw in a few dead celebrities into the mix, I’d choose. . . .Ed Gein, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Adolph Hitler, Jack The Ripper and Jade Goody.

Who do you think has been the worst Big Brother contestant and why?

Well I don’t think there is a worst contestant. Just so many that have been really disappointing when it comes to not providing any entertainment value what so ever. I mean I couldn’t even start to name names, as I can’t remember them as they had no impact on viewers. Truly boring contestants should never be allowed to walk down those stairs. Pack that house with big personalities I say.

You worked on two hugely popular shows on Gaydar Radio how did that come about and would you ever consider returning to Gaydar or maybe a mainstream radio station?

Well I was approached by Gaydar after doing an interview for them shortly after my exit from Big Brother. They were impressed enough to call me in and sign me up with my own Saturday morning breakfast show. The success of that eventually led to them adding me on a Sunday morning, and bringing on board Lea for “The Dicky & Dolly Show”. Sadly we were made redundant this year. Now is not really a good time for radio across the board. I don’t think we would return to Gaydar, simply because we want to move the format into something more commercial. We absolutely loved our time at Gaydar and are very grateful to the entire team. However I believe in moving forward not backwards. We are looking into bringing Dicky & Dolly back very soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

You and Lea probably have one of the most genuine relationships to come out of the house Dicky & Dolly the British Will & Grace, what have you both been up to of late?

What a great comparison. We are working to bring Dicky & Dolly back to radio and we’d love to take what we do on TV. We have a lot of work to do. Other than that we spend a lot of time chatting on the phone and getting pissed on cheep rose.

You have hosted Pride and a Mr Gay UK event is it something you really enjoy?

Yes. Mr Gay UK was the first time I had to carry a show off on my own in front of a live audience. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, yet somehow I just kept looking at all these hot young men prancing up and down a catwalk in underwear. When it came to interviewing them I couldn’t stop looking down, words and sentences just naturally fell out of my mouth along with my tongue. Everything else I’ve hosted came naturally to me after that. The countless Pride’s up and down the UK & Ireland with Lea, and the Transexual pageant we host together every year in London. I’m lucky in that I’m very comfortable stepping onto a stage in front of thousands. I don’t suffer stage fright and have yet to be pelted off stage with rotten tomatoes.

Now we hear you call yourself a ’sexual terrorist’, explain?

(Laughing) Well, I said it in my audition for Big Brother and they dropped it in my VT and hammered it out all summer. My friend once called me it on a dance floor in reference to my predacious way with men.

I believe you do quiet a lot of feature writing?

Well I wouldn’t say a lot. However, I’d certainly like to be doing more. It’s just a case of finding more time. I do however contribute to Boyz magazine on a regular basis as well as other gay publications.

You have some fantastic photographical images, which I understand you fashion and set them up yourself is this something you are passionate about?

Well I wouldn’t say I’m passionate about styling myself and posing for photographs. It’s actually grueling and tiring. For me it’s more a part of the PR, something you need to do. You need the image, and like Madonna I believe in reinvention. I took control of being photographed after I was horrifically snapped for a shoot by OK! Magazine. Me and Lea were shot as Dicky & Dolly for OK! about three weeks after Big Brother wrapped. We were so excited when it hit the stands as we had not seen the final pictures. We picked up a copy, and were mortified at how bad we looked. I looked like Nosferatu, Lea looked like Miss Piggy. We cried and laughed at the same time. I could see clearly where everything went wrong with the styling, wardrobe and make-up. So we decided to form our own Ideas, and pitch them to photographers we knew and trusted. Again it’s more about taking control of your own image, brand really.

I have heard your success is down to your own PR and not one of the many Agencies, are you quiet the businessman and what does the future hold for you?

That’s very flattering of you, thank you. Well yes, I don’t have an agent. I had one for about three weeks when I came out of the Big Brother house but realized very quickly that she was the most incompetent, moronic, directionless woman I had ever encountered in all my life. Not really qualities you are looking for in someone to direct your career. It seemed every other agent I met with after, came at me with the same CV. I sat back and thought you know what, I have the drive and determination, and It really isn’t that hard to send an email or pick up a phone. So now I manage myself. It’s much more personal, and I can deal with people directly. If anything goes wrong it’s my fault. It is hard at times to manage myself and I often think I could do with some help, but I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to work. As for the future. Well as long as I’m kept busy, rushing off my feet then I’m happy. I’m a workaholic that way.

Is there an avenue of work you would like to try given the opportunity?

Well I’ve always wanted to be a documentary film maker. I’m currently working with a small production company on a project Idea. I’m one of those crazed creative types that is always sitting on an idea and waiting for the most opportune moment. I think now I’m ready to explore this. I always liked the idea of working in a visual medium. So we’ll see.

Finally, Are you single, attached, what sort of men do you find your attracted to?

Gosh I hate to admit it but I’m single. I’ve been single ever since leaving Big Brother in the summer 2006. So if any handsome man with big arms, Intelligent, creative, with a great smile, and big personality is reading this. GET IN TOUCH GOD DAMN IT! I’ve been waiting my whole life for you.