Big Brother stars could raise awareness

By Paul Carter

Disability groups have expressed hopes that the two visually-impaired contestants on the latest series of reality TV show Big Brother will help raise awareness.

Michael Hughes, 33, from Kilwinning, Ayrshire, is a presenter and producer on RNIB’s Insight Radio, and was one of 16 “housemates” who entered the show on its first night.

Lord [Colin] Lowe, chair of RNIB, confessed to Disability Now to "not being much of a student of Big Brother", but went on to say, "I believe that blind people should be able to do what anyone else can do.  Anyone else can go into the Big Brother house so it's good that Michael can do that too.  And he's not representing anyone, so if he makes an ass of himself that doesn't impact on anyone else." 

RNIB spokeswoman Ciara Smyth added that Michael’s presence on the show may help raise awareness of the challenges faced by blind people in everyday life, as many people “have little experience of seeing someone who is blind get on with their life and live independently”.

“However, it is important to note that no one person can be expected to represent all blind and partially-sighted people.

“We hope that audiences and housemates will judge Michael as an individual first and foremost and that his blindness will not define him,” she said.

The show also features another visually-impaired contestant in Darnell Swallow, who has albinism.

An Albino Fellowship spokesman said: “We'll be watching Darnell's progress with interest as this is potentially an opportunity for increased public awareness of albinism.”

The latest series of Big Brother, the ninth in the UK, is scheduled to run for 13 weeks.