By james art A former Big Brother winner from County Durham has opened up about the ‘dark side’ of the TV show after having a ‘roller coaster’ of emotions and reactions following his appearance on the programme.
Originally from Consett, Anthony Hutton emerged the winner of Big Brother in 2005 when he was just 23 years old.
The next day he received a quarter of a million pounds through a magazine deal and more money was to come through TV work and sponsorship deals.
However, his time in the limelight was short-lived.
Anthony Hutton (Image: ITV) The realization that he was no longer ‘Anthony from Big Brother’ combined with a lifestyle of excess eventually led him to a dark state of mind.
These confessions of Anthony’s have been captured in a new film which will premiere at the Tees Valley International Film Festival next month.
Centered around the 2005 Big Brother winner’s experience, Surviving Reality: Beyond the TV Dream also features interviews with 2006 BB winner Pete Bennett and 2002 housemate Johnny Regan from Hartlepool.
The film delves into the psychological and social challenges they faced after the show, contrasting their fame with the often-overlooked struggles that followed.
Anthony Hutton at a male suicide prevention public speaking event (Image: LYCETTS) To rebuild his life, Anthony moved to Darlington and began a career in the hairdressing industry.
It was this newfound passion and the payoff from the News of the World phone hacking scandal that allowed him to open the popular Mr Huttons bar and barbershop in the city centre.
Nineteen years after his success on Big Brother, Anthony is happily married with two young sons and recently set up the ground-breaking Never Throw in the Towel Project, an initiative designed to improve mental health and reduce male suicide through outdoor activities, open conversation and cold water therapy.
Recommended reading:
Get more content, including the stories that matter to your community, from The Northern Echo for just £5 for 5 months for a limited time only here.
The success of Never Throw in the Towel Project’s monthly events has led to Anthony being invited to large companies like Amazon and even prisons to speak about his experiences and how others can find strength and support in times of challenge.
Speaking about his role in making the film, Anthony said: “Although I loved my Big Brother experience and have a lot to thank the show for, looking back on the tougher times that followed were difficult. I found my highs and lows on the reality TV roller coaster mirrored those of other BB winners, but also heart-warming that we made it through the low points and got to share our stories in the film”.
Surviving Reality: Beyond the TV Dream will premiere at the Tees Valley International Film Festival at ARC Stockton on November 7.