jermaine-jackson-interview tvradio interviews Virgin Media
Between the flaming rows, swearing, bullying, fisticuffs and temper tantrums in the BB house one man rose above it all, Jermaine Jackson. Sidestepping the rows with the kind of footwork not seen since his Jackson 5 days and always there to quell a row (although Oxo cube gate proved even beyond him!) Jermaine was a picture of serenity. So how's life post BB? We caught up with him at the launch of Virgin Media for a chat.
VM: Hello Jermaine. How does it feel to taste freedom again?"
Jermaine: "I'm still getting used to it. You miss so many everyday things while you're in there."
VM: What were you doing before you went into the BB house?"
Jermaine: "I was recording the new Jackson 5 album. Infact I left recording in the middle of it to appear on Celeb BB. My brothers weren't really pleased. But I go back to LA in the next few weeks to finish the album. It'll be out at the end of this year."
VM: Will Michael be on it?"
Jermaine: "Oh yeah. He'll be on it. He's real excited about it too."
VM: He's now a neighbour of yours in Bahrain isn't he? "
Jermaine: "Yeah. I live out there with my family. (Jermaine's wife Haleema is from Afghanistan and he has seven children including son Jermajesty!). It's a very peaceful place, the people are very respectful and I love the sunshine. This cold English weather tends to chill my bones!"
VM: And you're working on a Jackson 5 musical now? "
Jermaine: "Yeah. It's about the beginning of The Jacksons, before we signed to Motown and what it was like growing up in Gary, Indiana. The show will follow us signing to Motown and auditioning for Berry Gordy and what it was like having to sing infront of Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and The Temptations. The story will go up to 1984 and our Victory tour of the US. So we'll cast each brother 3 times, from childhood to adulthood. We're going to launch a reality TV show to find the cast members. The show will be shot at Neverland, at Michael's place and we'll launch the musical here in the West End. We're in development now, casting and writing."
VM: Have you been in touch with any of the BB contestants since leaving the house?"
Jermaine: "No, I haven't had time. I've been busy working on the Jacksons musical."
VM: Have you been bombarded with lots of reality TV offers since leaving BB?
Jermaine: (sighs)
VM: How did you find your time in the BB House? Was it tougher than you imagined?
Jermaine: "It was tough, yeah. The hardest thing is the daily routine. It's very difficult to occupy your mind in there because they don't give you much to do. And then all of a sudden they'll land you with a task. But you're always wondering what's going on in the outside world. When you hear a helicopter or a plane flying overhead you wonder what's happening - 'Is that for us?' Has something happened?'.
VM: What was your view of the Jade and Shilpa row? Do you think Jade Goody is a racist?
Jermaine: "No, I don't. I think she has some issues but her row with Shilpa wasn't about racism. It started over a chicken cube and it just escalated. It was a silly thing that just grew and grew."
VM: What made you convert to Islam? (Jermaine's Muslim name is Muhammad Abdul Aziz)
Jermaine: "I just found in Islam the answers to things which I'd failed to find in Christianity and as I say, there's a peace and respectfulness about the religion which suits me. "
VM: If they asked you, would you appear on Big Brother again?
Jermaine: "Mmm.. I'd have to think about that real hard. It's tough in there. I've done it now and it's time to move on."
13th February 2007