George Lamb & Zezi Ifore (Big Brother) Interview
Big Brother is back on Thursday 5th June on Channel 4 and E4, and a new bunch of housemates are about to begin the biggest game show of them all.
As the loveable younger sibling to Big Brother, BBLB has become an institution in itself – a cheeky, mischief-making show for the fans who love to know the ins and out of the most famous house in Britain.
But with the departure of host Dermot O’Leary, a position opened up for some new blood to step up and take the reigns. And it’s not one but two presenters who are poised to take over this summer: step forward the all-new Little Brother and Little Sister double act, George Lamb and Zezi Ifore.
George and Zezi are already part of the C4/E4 family, both presenting on E4 Music and daily morning music and entertainment show Freshly Squeezed. George also presents on T4 and has his own weekday show on BBC 6Music. Before Zezi started presenting she was the editor of cult fashion magazine Super Super and worked in music A&R. So what have the two newbies got to bring to the table of BBLB? And will Dermot regret telling them to call him anytime?
Well done on getting the gig you two. Are you excited about taking over BBLB?
Zezi: Extremely so, very excited. One might say ecstatic.
George: Ooof! (then starts talking in third person) George releases audible sounds of excitement and glee… Of course, it’s one of the biggest TV franchises in the history of television and what a wonderful thing to be part of it.
Z: Get him with his soundbite! Soundbite Sam. ‘One of the biggest TV franchises’ – I’m going to learn that one!
Are you nervous about stepping into Dermot’s shoes?
G: Ah, he’s only got little feet.
(laughter and applause from Zezi)
G: We’re actually trying to have a baton passing ceremony with Dermot, he’s been wonderfully supportive for a long time now. I want to go down to a running track and have him actually hand over the baton to us.
Has he given you any words of advice?
G: No, but he said we can call him any time.
Z: He gave us his blessing which was nice.
G: We’re going to put him to the test and ring him every morning at half 5 for the next 13 weeks, to see if he’s true to his word.
Dermot used to do some pretty bizarre things, like last year when he dressed up in a white latex bodysuit, and he has done a lot of silly dancing over the years. What are you going to do to keep the tradition of silliness in the name of BBLB alive?
G: Well obviously we’re going to work within the parameters that it’s a switch-over show to Big Brother, so we can never go too far from it but in order to make it our own show and in order to not mimic what Dermot did – because you’re only going to make a rod for your own back by doing that – we have to take ownership of the show. So I think it’s going to be a different show and I think it’s going to be driven far more by humour and…
Z: Hijinks!
G: Well…. rather than slapstick comedy it might be a little subtler and one would hope a little cooler than before.
Do you know much yet about how it’s going to work then?
G: Yep. I’m not going to dress up in a lot of latex that’s the main thing.
Z: I think it will be more opinionated, that’s what people want to hear. Telling it like it is, keeping it real!
G: I definitely want to hear what I’ve got to say.
Can you tell us about any new segments within the show?
G: Ooh can’t tell you anything about that!
Z: Watch and see.
It goes without saying you’re both big fans of the show?
Z: Of course! I watched it when I was meant to be revising for exams, for many a year. That and Wimbledon. And I passed all my exams!
G: So it just shows, to all the students out there that you can still watch the show and do alright.
Z: It just shows! 6 A*s and 4 As good enough for you? I think so. Thanks Big Bro!
What have been some of your favourite moments from past series?
Z: Obviously Jade and her kebab belly, hilarious. I loved Tania with her copious amounts of blusher, that’s vintage BB but I did love that, the big blusher thing going on. And Nadia, just Nadia, in general. And Makosi, just being Makosi. Oh actually, all time best moment: Aisleyne teaching them how to bogle by the pool. Aisleyne bogling, ghetto-stylee.
G: Generally, if there’s bogling I’m happy.
Z: Let’s get a dancehall queen in the next series that’s what I say.
Following on from that, are there any types of characters you would like to see in the house who perhaps haven’t been represented before?
Z: A dancehall queen!
G: We’ve had a pretty broad spectrum so far, but I’d like some genuinely funny people in the house. I’d love to get proper stand-up comics in there. I think it should be mandatory.
Which stand-ups would you put in then?
G: If I could put anyone in there to really make me laugh? Peter Kay would be great in there.
Z: Ruby Wax!
G: No, funny people!
Z: Liza Tarbuck, let’s get Liza Tarbuck in there.
G: Get Johnny Vaughan in there, he’s funny.
Z: But also some miserable people. Cynics, true sourpusses. I love people who are just miserable. Emos! We’ve not had an emo, I’ve not seen a fringe come down and there’s not enough eyeliner.
G: Or Goths.
Z: Get My Chemical Romance in there!
You’ve both worked on E4 Music and Freshly Squeezed but not actually worked alongside each other before?
G: Never worked together.
Z: But we’ve got plenty of time to make up for those lost years.
So you’re not familiar with each other’s style?
G: Yeah she always looks good.
Z: George always looks good. George always looks really healthy – and like a dandy. So we’re stepping up some serious fashion looks this year. In fact, sod the studio audience, I just want a catwalk!
G: Three outfit changes a show would be good.
Tell us something about yourselves that viewers wouldn’t already know about you.
G: I could almost speak fluent Spanish about two years ago.
What happened?
G: I split up with a girl and stopped practising.
Z: I speak French and Italian. And I love Pat Benatar. And I love Meatloaf.
George, you used to manage Lily Allen. When was this and why switch from behind the scenes to in front of the camera yourself?
G: I managed her for two years (2003/4) while I was managing another band called Audio Bullys and unfortunately all the A&R men in London seemed to be deaf for the six months we were hawking around eight of the 11 tracks that were on that record, Smile included. After about the tenth knock back we said this isn’t really working and a friend of mine who runs Remedy Productions asked if I’d like to come in and have a bash at presenting so I went and did that. My friend Adrian then managed Lily and they put the stuff on myspace and it went from there.
Z: I was in A&R too…
Yes, you’ve got a strong music background as well…
Z: Yes, and I DJ too. Sometimes by myself and sometimes with Grimmy (fellow presenter Nick Grimshaw).
Are we going to see any of your DJ skills on BBLB?
Z: Yeah maybe. Maybe we’ll get some tunes in, some old time big bangers. We can have a rave-up, maybe on the Sunday show have a two-minute rave. We can make up songs, I love making up songs. Me on the xylophone or the ukulele. Me and Grimmy have a number 1 hit in the offing. It’s about biscuits.
George: I’ll manage you. Oh, actually, maybe that’s not such a good idea….
(both laugh)
George, your dad (Larry Lamb, most recently seen as Mick in Gavin & Stacey) is having a bit of a moment, that’s pretty cool…
G: The coolest. He’s having a bit of a renaissance. He’s going to be in EastEnders in the summer, and he was in Gavin & Stacey. He kind of had his 15 minutes when I was a boy. When I was little he used to be properly famous, and then he went to not properly famous. But it’s alright, he’s back in the game! (cheers all round). It’s lovely, really nice.
Did you grow up on television sets then?
G: All the time. I spent my life flying to wherever he was. I was the number one British Midland fly-on-your-own kid. What are they called?
Z: Billy no mates?!
G: Where you get a woman holding your hand, and crayons and everything.
Z: Aw, he’s from good stock George is.
Finally, can you sum up in three words what you want the all-new BBLB to be?
Z: Zezi and George!
G: Yep, there you go!
