The film is due to premiere next month at the Tees Valley International Film Festival
Former Big Brother winners will share their candid stories of life after filming and the stark impacts on mental health in a new documentary.
The expose, set to premiere next month, was made by the award-winning Hartlepool filmmaker behind a 2020 documentary on notorious Middlesbrough hardman Lee Duffy. This film centres around the experience of 2005 Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton.
Originally from Consett, Anthony emerged victorious from Big Brother when he was only 23. The next day he was given £250,000 through a magazine deal and more money was to come his way through TV work and sponsorship.
His time in the limelight, however, would be short-lived. And the realisation that he was no longer “Anthony off Big Brother”, combined with a lifestyle of excess, ultimately led to mental health struggles.
In an attempt to rebuild his life, Anthony moved to Darlington and began a career in the hair industry, going on to open up the town centre bar and barbers shop Mr Huttons. Almost two decades after his Big Brother success, Anthony is now happily married with two young sons.
He recently set up the groundbreaking Never Throw in the Towel Project, an initiative designed to improve mental health and reduce suicide in men through outdoor activity, open conversation and cold water therapy. The success of the project's monthly events have led to Anthony being invited to major companies such as Amazon, and even prisons, to speak about his experiences.
Speaking of his role in the making of the film, Anthony said “While I adored my Big Brother experience and have a lot to thank the show for, recalling the harder times that followed was tough. It was an eye-opener to discover that my highs and lows on the reality TV rollercoaster mirrored those of other BB winners, but also heartwarming that we made it through the low points and got to share our stories in the film”.
'Surviving Reality: Beyond the TV Dream' also features interviews with 2006 Big Brother winner Pete Bennett and 2002 housemate, Hartlepool's Jonny Regan. The feature-length documentary will be premiered at the Tees Valley International Film Festival at ARC in Stockton on November 7.
Filmmaker Paul Suggitt was inspired to share the stars' story after attending a show at last year's Tees Valley International Film Festival in which Anthony and Pete discussed their experiences. “When I heard Anthony and Pete talking about the things that the Big Brother cameras didn’t capture I decided there and then that their reality TV journey had to be told on film," he said.
"Their stories were fascinating, heart-wrenching, hilarious and inspirational in equal measures. From the dozens of hours' worth of interviews we conducted with former reality TV stars for the film, it became clear that getting your 15 minutes of fame always comes with a consequence."
Along with the documentary 'Lee Duffy: Too Far Too Soon', Paul has also a produced a film on Hartlepool’s five-time Mr Universe Eddy Ellwood as well as former Teesside criminal Brian Cockerill. He raised money and awareness of homelessness with his documentary 'Surviving Homeless', in which he lived on the streets of Middlesbrough and Hartlepool for six weeks.
Anthony and Paul will be in attendance at the premiere to take part in an interview and audience Q&A following the showing. More information and tickets are available here.
