A Borehamwood teenager is watching the hit television show Big Brother with added interest he helped to build the now-famous house.

Big Brother fan Scott Irvin, 18, of Clifton Way, was one of three trainees from the Working Herts charity who helped specialist companies to build the house at Elstree Film and Television Studios in Elstree Way, Borehamwood.

Scott, who is backing contestant Spencer to win, helped, for a month, to build walls and the ceiling, and to install the staircase, which contestants use to enter and leave the house, before the interior decorators arrived.

He said: "When I was first there, it was just a frame. It was fun working on it it was good experience because I watched the first two series of Big Brother and it was a privilege to be working on the third one."

Paul Watkinson, chief executive of Working Herts, which helps unemployed people get practical work experience and find jobs, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity for some of our trainees to gain valuable work experience, and was a very exciting and rather different project.

"Many people learn best by doing, and can then hit the ground running once they enter full-time employment."

Working Herts was introduced to Big Brother maker Endemol Entertainment UK by Elstree Film and Television Studios, where the charity has worked on various projects.Big Brother fan Scott Irvin at work on the house

June 26, 2002 14:30