A drag queen policeman, a Borat impersonator from Poland and a chain-smoking drudge in a dressing gown a la Jo from S Club 7. It can only mean one thing – the Big Brother circus is in town.

See also – News Blog: This is Big Brother…

Thousands upon thousands of would-be housemates, including scores from Shropshire, are lined up at Birmingham’s Think Tank for their chance at fame and fortune at open auditions for this summer’s Big Brother series.

Inside they must convince the show’s producers that they are the next Shilpa Shetty, the next Craig Phillips or, heaven forbid, the next Jade Goody.

But, right now, in the fall-out of accusations of racism and bullying in the House, who would want to audition to be a Big Brother contestant? Why go on Britain’s most complained-about and controversial show and expose yourself, warts and all, to a potentially disastrous – and life-changing fate?

Among the throng of wannabe housemates at the Midland auditions is Karen Taylor, 30, from Newtown. Here is an office worker who fancies the life-changing fate and would like the full works – to be famous and be seen on TV and in magazines

“There are no interesting, extravagant people on Big Brother – people like me. But I would want it to work so I could help other people, but I would like to be famous, who wouldn’t?”

Lee Millward, pictured, a 31-year-old welder from Randlay, Telford, wants to go on Big Brother “for a laugh”.

“I wouldn’t mind being famous but I’m famous in my own right anyway. To be honest I fancy 12 weeks off work, but I would go back to being a welder.

“I’ve already said that if I get on Big Brother they’ve got to keep my job open for me.”

Paul Mitchell, right, a construction foreman from Newport, reveals he has an ulterior motive for attempting to get in the House.

“I’ve got a wager with a friend of mine who’s a businessman that I’m going to make £10,000 just for getting in there,” he says.

“I’m just going to be me if I get in there, I’m not bothered about anything else.”

Window dresser Fiona Whitelaw, 26, from Telford, agrees that the show is a make-or-break experience but that’s why she would like to be on it.

“It’s a bit weird because a lot of people go on the show and make absolute fools of themselves but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“You don’t think about winning, you can’t speculate about that. For me, I want to do it just for the experience of what might happen inside and it does scare me about what could happen when you come out because a lot of people get grief, people like Jade.”

Daniel Seabury, 28 from Telford, pictured with sisters Hannah and Sarah Oliver from Broseley, wants to go into the house in order to discover himself.

“It’s a great excuse to not work for a few weeks, there’s probably loads of money to be made out of it and I just want to find out who I am,” he says.

“I haven’t got a clue who I am at the moment,” he jokes. “I’ve spent 28 years trying to find out and I still don’t know. I am who I am around my friends, but with new people it might be a chance to be who I really am rather what everyone else expects me to be.”

Currently working in online advertising, he’s done “a bit of everything” – landlord, fishmonger, you name it. What would he bring to the Big Brother house?

“Confusion and chaos,” he adds. “I can get on with anyone but if anyone hacks me off then they’ll know about it. I’m always taking the mickey and generally being stupid. Boring is boring, I like to bring a bit of life to situations. I’d love to be on Big Brother.”

Sarah Oliver, 23, from Broseley, says: “I’m a pretty unlucky sort of person. If I got on the show I would probably fall down and break a leg or something.

“I’m not bothered about being famous because then people know all about your past and everything, but you’ve got to have a go. I think it would be a laugh.”

Her sister Hannah, 21, is also on a voyage of discovery: she’s either going to Australia for a year or going on Big Brother.

Whichever way you look at it, her life will be totally turned upside down.

“I think I would be a great inspiration to many other 21-year-olds that are out in the world doing nothing with their lives – why not do something exciting and get into Big Brother. Live the dream. Australia can wait!”

On the day of the auditions, David Jenkins, right,  from Much Wenlock, is celebrating his 29th birthday. Will it be sixth time lucky for the chap known around town as “Big Dave”?

“I’ve been trying to get on Big Brother for the last five years. I’ve had to draw pictures of myself and do a four-minute video of myself but I didn’t come anywhere near it.

“I would just be myself, have a laugh and a joke. I’m just constantly taking the mickey. I am trying to famous I suppose. I went for the Paul O’Grady auditions in Birmingham a couple of years ago and that didn’t work out. I’ve tried for Big Brother the last five times – it’s just something I want to do.

“I want to better myself and I know for a fact that I’ll cope because 11 weeks is a long time. I just want to make sure I’m out by the end of August because I’m Best Man at my mate’s wedding.”

But will these would-be housemates from Shropshire tick all the boxes for the Big Brother talent scouts who await them at the auditions? Will we see any of them when the series starts in the summer, or will it be a case of “Next!”

See also – News Blog: This is Big Brother…

By Ben Bentley