The "Big Brother" (UK) Panto 2005 Quiz

Answer: Cinderella

The panto cast members had to audition for their parts in "Cinderella", with much bickering at the beginning as to who got to audition for the title role. The part eventually came down to Jade and Anouska, with the former winning the role after a viewers' vote. The panto director was Chris Denys, Principal of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Answer: Marco

Marco from "Big Brother 5" was second into the lodge, followed by Tim, Narinder, Melanie, Spencer, Anouska, Kitten, Nick and Victor. It was quite interesting to see people from the first five series of "Big Brother" all together under one roof. Would they actually get on with one another?

Answer: True

Narinda was the only housemate from that series to appear in the panto. Nick and Melanie were from the first series, Tim, Spencer and Jade were from "Big Brother 3", Anouska was a housemate in the fourth series whilst Kitten, Marco and Victor were in "Big Brother 5".

Answer: Marco, Spencer and Tim

Marco, Spencer and Tim all fancied themselves as the ugly sisters. In the end director Chris Denys chose Spencer to play Jordanne and Tim won the part of Jodey. Marco was awarded the part of the fairy godmother.

Answer: A wardrobe door

The entrance to the famous diary room was disguised to look like the door of a wardrobe. The whole of the "Big Brother" lodge was designed with Christmas and winter in mind, with fake snow, a false log fire, Christmas trees and even a polar bear. The lodge had a small garden, complete with a hot tub. During normal "Big Brother" shows, the sound of an areoplane flying overhead is played if the housemates say anything that is not suitable for broadcasting. For this series, the sound of a cold wind blowing was played!

Answer: A professional drag queen

Victor got into a bit of a sulk when drag queen Dave Lynn suggested he have a go at dressing up as a woman. The thought of wearing tights and a dress just did not seem to appeal to macho man Vic! As well as Dave, the cast members received training and help from dance coach Louie Spence, and singing coaches Nick Foster and Mike Rose.

Answer: Playing golf

All ten cast members were offered camcorders to record events on their Christmas break away from panto rehearsals, but not everyone bothered. Six members refused them, two camcorders were taken and not returned, leaving only Spencer and Jade who actually bothered to do something with them. Spencer was filmed happily playing golf on Christmas Day, because, he said, "it was quiet and free"! Jade filmed her two small boys and their father, Jeff Brazier, opening their presents on Christmas morning. The pantomime cast members also had a break away for the New Year celebrations.

Answer: Mel

Mel, who was the seventh person to be evicted in the first ever "Big Brother" in 2000, was awarded the part of Prince Charming. Her fellow housemate from the first series, "Nasty" Nick Bateman, played the part of Baron Hardup. Anouska, who lost the part of Cinderella to Jade, had to be content to play the bit parts, whilst Kitten played Dandini, Prince Charming's loyal servant. Kitten, who caused some uproar in the fifth season of "Big Brother" managed to fall out with a few people while rehearsing for the pantomime, including dance coach Louie Spence.

Answer: The pantomime fairy

The pantomime was introduced by presenter Jeff Brazier, and performed live to an audience which featured friends and relatives of the cast, as well as former "Big Brother" contestants such as Jon Tickle and Lisa Jeynes. The voiceovers were provided by the usual "Big Brother" narrator Marcus Bentley. First on stage was Marco in his role as the pantomime fairy, camping it up in his usual style! For those who were unable to see the live show, the pantomime was repeated on Channel 4 on Thursday 6th January.

Answer: "(I've Had) The Time of my Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

Both Jade and Mel, despite having not previously acted, put in a quite credible performance during "Cinderella". Indeed, the pantomime seemed to go off really well considering. It certainly helped if the viewer had seen the first five seasons of "Big Brother" as there were quite a few references and in-jokes relating to various housemates, including "Cinderella" being set in "East Angular", which was how Jade Goody pronounced East Anglia, much to her fellow housemates amusement, in "Big Brother 3". "Cinderella" was written by Jonathan Harvey, best known for writing the scripts for shows such as "Gimme Gimme Gimme" and "Beautiful Thing". The "Big Brother" panto was quite a different experience from the usual "Big Brother" shows, as there were less restrictions on the housemates, and, of course, there were no evictions! They were also allowed to leave the lodge over Christmas, and various people popped in and out each day.

P.S. I confirmed the spelling of cast and character names in the pantomime at the Channel 4 website at www.channel4.com.