BELINDA BELINDA BELINDA

Here at ExeterList we were slightly shocked and excited a few weeks ago when over a good hard-earned bottle of plonk we saw an actual person we knew walk (or rather pirouette) her way into the Big Brother house. I say know…we have made some flyers for her once upon a time, and also communicate in a purely professional capacity when promoting her ‘Surreal Saloon’ performance events through the magazine. However through both of those processes we found Exeter’s own Belinda Harris-Reid to be a jolly nice lady. We also observed during those times that this lady can talk!!! So we became very excited about seeing whether her brand of bubbly chat would be a success with the other inhabitants.

Like a bit of a whirlwind we saw her big personality whoosh through the house, making for some entertaining viewing, but sadly for Belinda’s long term house-dwelling hopes, it gave programme makers quite a lot of slightly eccentric moments to squidge down into the nightly show. The result was a premature exit for the Exeter hopeful. Just ahead of the next housemate leaving the compound, we caught up with the recently ‘freed’ Belinda to see how she was finding life outside in the real world.

Tell us about your experience in the Big Brother house.

Whoosh! back to normality... been a media frenzy for a few days. I am honoured and so pleased to have taken part in the BB experience. All in all they are a wonderful bunch of housemates! Each one of them has a real sparkle... hence being chosen to go into the house. I had some wonderful chats with all of them; these are not shown... hey ho - that's the nature of the beast (24 hours condensed into 1 hour!)... We live in interesting time!

We were jolly impressed with your bike riding efforts. Especially when we saw other housemates (Rebecca) seeming to put far less enthusiasm into it.

After the 'bike' riding task, I kinda' collapsed - the balance problem that put me in a wheelchair 6 years ago kicked in again... a doctor came to see me; took my blood pressure, pulse etc - he wasn't sure of the diagnosis but thought that I had contracted a viral infection in my ear; (my balance was completely knocked out again) and/or that there was a possibility that 'vistubular praxis' (living sea-sick) had returned! Yeesh! The pain in my body; carrying my 13 stone on my arms for half an hour was horrendous (of course the press have quoted me as saying: riding a bike is worse than child birth!) ... so... yes, I gave birth to my youngest son at home, on a beanbag - with a v. short labour, no pain relief because the 'pain' felt like 'a heavy period'... holding my weight on my arms was much much worse than that! Ha Ha...

Would you do your time all over again if you knew what you do now?

Wow... what an extraordinary experience. I said in my interview with Davina that I think everyone should have a go, everyone should audition - now, after being out of the house for nearly a week, looking at the 'spin', reading some of the press articles and forums, watching some of the film footage I feel differently. Only people with a massively strong resolve/steadfastness should apply... of course I did say and do everything that was shown but if words and actions are taken out of context they can sometimes present a slightly different 'reality'. Hey ho... positive positive positive... ever positive

What do you feel you will be remembered for in the house?

Belinda Belinda Belinda, 'voice for the voiceless', do ba do ba do, 'riding a bike is worse than child birth', ' my vulva was raw', I only wear black and white, my children were home-educated, I’ve stood on stage naked, I live in Devon - what will I be remembered for?


We think as time moves along, and the next housemate is thrown into the media whoosh, Belinda’s moment in the Big Brother spotlight will be remembered for bringing a touch of barminess, and having a heart truly in the right place. Well Done, you are a brave woman indeed.