My Big Brother star son is NOT thick! (From Echo)
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My Big Brother star son is NOT thick!
1:20pm Friday 29th June 2007 in News By Mikarla Marsden
Go Brian - his aunt Rhona Smith, left, and family friend Karen Beat
THE mum of Big Brother contestant Brian Belo has broken her silence to defend her son.
Sue Smith is outraged by media coverage of her son - and in particular Essex FM, whose presenter called him "brainless".
Ms Smith, 53, of Basildon, said: "He's being portrayed as the Essex idiot, but he's not thick.
"It's just a game show and he's playing it. He is clever.
"The house likes him so he must know what he's doing."
Brian was panned for spelling the word "glamorous" wrongly and claiming he had never heard of Shakespeare.
Ms Smith said she was hurt to hear Brian dubbed a bad representative for Essex and was shocked to learn a radio station was rallying listeners to vote him off the Channel 4 show.
She insisted Brian was a clever, genuine lad who knew exactly who Shakespeare was.
Ms Smith said the former Bromfords School student had undertaken media studies at a college in Southend and had just started a good job as a data entry clerk.
Brian's aunt Rhona Smith, 42, of Pitsea, said it was upsetting to hear Brian belittled. She said: "He's a genuinely nice lad.
"It's a disgrace that an Essex radio show would be so disrespectful."
Family friend Karen Beat, 45, of Billericay, added: "It was bang out of order for Brian to be slaughtered on the radio. I've switched to a different station."
Brian's mum said getting on Big Brother had been one of his dearest wishes.
She said not only did Brian have every episode of Big Brother stashed under his bed, he had also watched the Australian series.
Ms Smith said Brian had tried out for the show three times and had come close to making it previously.
She said she wouldn't be surprised if he left with a girlfriend as he seemed to have his eye on Amanda.
Ms Smith said her son had never spoken about winning or the money, but had been keen to have the experience.
She called on residents to get behind Brian and said: "He's so proud of Basildon. He said before he went in that he was doing it for Basildon."
