WE ARM WRESTLE ANSWERS OUT OF BB’S JJ BIRD!

During the Face of ESP our reporter, Mikey Clarke managed to squeeze past hundreds of girls who were trying to get a photo with our special guest, boxer and recent Big Brother housemate JJ Bird. He caught up with our new local celeb and ended up arm wrestling some answers out of him on how things are going after leaving the house…

So it was your birthday recently, what did you get up to?

It was a very busy day! I’m very keen to get myself back in the ring so I found myself a new trainer and met up with my manager to go through plans for my return to boxing.

Did you get anything exciting?

Well randomly I was called up by River Island and asked if I’d like to go down with John James to a store in Oxford Street. I went and got £300 worth of free clothes which is so surreal as just a couple of months ago, I was shopping there. Then in the evening I got to attend the Halo Reach game launch for Xbox along with Brian Belo and Sam Pepper where I got a new Slimeline Xbox for free… so basically, I got some cool presents for this birthday!

Hmmm… That almost beats the socks I got for my Birthday! So how did you find things in the Big Brother house?

You know what; I found it real easy to be honest! I was having such a good time and nothing got me down. I was only in there for 4 and a half weeks so maybe if I had been in for the full 10 weeks it might have been different.

And since leaving Big Brother how has your life changed?

It’s been weird really because people recognise me and want pictures and autographs. It’s nice because everyone has been so positive. Obviously getting all those free things for my birthday was strange… not that I’m complaining. Other than that not much has changed.

Honestly… Did anything happen under those covers with Corin?

No nothing happened, she was just stroking my stomach and we had a little cuddle but that was it. I think Corin’s lovely, but I just don’t fancy her. We’re good friends though and will be meeting up soon as she’s moved to London.

Other than Corin, have you planned to meet up with any other housemates?

I speak to Dave and Josie on the phone every now and then, plus I regularly text a few of the others. We’re planning on having a night out soon!

That sounds like it’s going to be a good night out! Speaking of which, are you regularly spotted in the streets? What do people say to you?

I do and it’s weird being spotted. People’s reactions vary usually depending on age. I get a lot of young girls who scream at me and give me hugs! But I think it’s more because I’m friends with Aston? They all seem to be JLS fans! A lot of guys who are a bit older shake my hand, and say I was really genuine. That’s pretty cool because all I was doing was being myself.

So other then asking for hugs, do you get weird requests from these fans?

Well I get a lot of them asking me to marry them. They send me stuff too, and some of them even draw pictures of me! I’ve also had fans make videos and post them on YouTube. It’s all nice, just pretty weird!

Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to marry me! Instead, I’d like to ask what plans do you have for the future?

I’ve had a break from my boxing for over a year now so my plan is to get back into training and back in the ring! I still aim to be a British champion in the next 2 years. Other than that I’m busy with different bits of TV work but the main thing is to get my boxing back on track!

I’ve noticed you’re getting a lot of female attention tonight. Are you enjoying the single life?

Yeah, I’m enjoying the single life. When I used to go out with Aston all the attention used to be on him and girls would barely talk to me. Since I’ve been on the show, people come up to me as well, so yeah I’m enjoying it!

What do you look for in a girl?

Someone whose kind, can make me laugh, and likes watching DVD’s. She must also enjoy eating out and partying!

I hear you’ve been living with Aston from JLS. What’s it like living with a member of the biggest boy band out there at the moment?

I don’t look at it like that. To me he’s just one of my boys and I forget that he’s in JLS. We just chill whilst playing Xbox and stuff. To other people it might seem really amazing because of how much success he has had, but I don’t see it as a big deal.

I hear you and Aston have a healthy rivalry when it comes to women. Can I get an example?

Haha, well I guess we do! Before BB, like I said people wouldn’t be interested in speaking to me and I used to say because he was famous he was blocking girls from me. But now it’s changed a little so there’s no rivalry at the moment! We’re like a tag team! And because Marvin is all loved up with Rochelle from The Saturdays, I’m his new wingman.

Rumours are, you and JLS will be taking a lads holiday to Ibiza. What will be on your to-do list, once your there?

Yeah, we’re in Ibiza for a week in an amazing villa! I’m going to miss the BB rap party which is a shame, but Ibiza is definitely worth missing it for! We’ll just be sunning ourselves up and possibly partying a little!

So when you’re not partying in London, or sunning it up in Ibiza, where’s your favourite place to visit in Peterborough?

Probably Fratelli’s for food. When I’m back in the city, I’m definitely going straight there!

So I hear you and JLS took a holiday to Ibiza. How was it?

It was the ultimate lad’s holiday. We spent a lot of time chilling on the Blue Marlin Beach with cold Coronas and plenty of food! We stayed in the most amazing four bedroom private villa with a Gym, Pool, Steam Room, Pool Table, and massive 60 inch TV. Shamefully, I was beaten by Aston at Go-Karting. We’re very competitive so I have to beat him next time.  

This sounds quite tame so far…

We really needed to relax but of course there was partying too. We went to Space on the first night, and thought we’d be sensible by heading home at 2.30am (Very early for Ibiza). The next few nights however, we weren’t so good… we checked out Pacha one night and Eden during another, before returning home about 6.30am. So yeah, there was a lot of dancing and a lot of laughs!  

Did you get any special treatment during the week?

It was weird, because everywhere we went, we had VIP Tables. Obviously, you would expect Aston to get noticed but throughout the whole holiday people wanted pictures with me too! I was used to being the ‘picture taker’ for all the fans but now I’m on the other side of the camera which is strange!  

So where are you guys going next?

We’re already booking our holiday for next year which is probably going to be in February. We are looking to go to Vegas for five days then Miami for another five days. That will be something else!

Do you have any hidden talents? Any chance we’ll be seeing you join JLS? Or performing on Strictly?

I wouldn’t say any hidden talents but I did used to act and dance when I was younger. I haven’t got any plans to be joining JLS despite the Sun Newspaper writing that Aston had been training me to sing! I have been offered panto, which I’m considering.

Now that you’re recognised regularly, do you feel the pressure to look your best and be on your best behaviour at all times?

Haha, I’m always on my best behaviour. But I’ve always tried to look my best so I haven’t had to make a real extra effort.

Now JJ, for some reason, whenever I chat to a boxer or anybody in a fitness career, I have an uncontrollable urge to challenge them to an Arm Wrestle. So my final question is… Will you Arm Wrestle me? Sure! (For the record I’d like to announce that I won the Arm Wrestle).

OK, this is genuinely my final question. Did you let me win?

Well I didn’t want to embarrass you during ESP’s biggest night of the year. Perhaps you can find out for sure during a rematch sometime?

You’re on!

Since Big Brother, JJ has been living with Aston from JLS. Here’s what they had to say about being room-mates.  

So fellas, who is the messiest out of the two of you?

JJ -  Aston is definitely the messiest! Whilst he’s busy working, I’m often left to tidy up!

Since living together, what new things have you learnt about each other?

Aston -  I don’t think we’ve learnt anything new about each other yet, although it was very entertaining seeing JJ return home very drunk on his birthday. But we pretty much know everything about each other already!

What’s your room-mates worst habit?

JJ - Aston loves to leave his clothes all over the place.

Aston – and JJ loves to steal all my clothes.

JJ – Well that’ll teach you to leave your stuff lying around!

Who is the best cook?

Aston - We don’t tend to cook that often, and usually eat out. Don’t get me wrong, we both like to cook but it’s hard to find the time.

JJ - We have discussed doing a ‘Come dine with me’ kind of thing, where we get our mates over for dinner each week and score each other. I’m going to win!

Who has the biggest wardrobe?

JJ - Aston has the biggest wardrobe I have ever seen! That’s why I steal his clothes sometimes.

Aston – Yeah, JJ does take my stuff sometimes but we actually own a lot of the same things, as we have a similar style. He wore a waistcoat for his eviction that I also own. I just hope we don’t end up wearing the same thing at the same time.

Photos: Terry Harris (except Big Borther image, Channel 4). Images not for reproduction eslsewhere without prior permission.