Big Brother star John gets MSPs' votes

Published on Wednesday 9 January 2008 17:23

BIG BROTHER star John Loughton has won the support of MSPs across the country after showing politicians can be fun.

The 'BFG' (Big Friendly Ginger) from Edinburgh has also struck a blow for redheads and has gained cult status amongst his fellow gingers.

The 20-year-old, who is the Chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament, is among the favourites to win Big Brother Celebrity Hijack after winning the hearts of viewers with his madcap antics.

John, from Edinburgh, went on the show to prove that being a politician isn't geeky and that gingers are cool.

The former chip shop worker quickly shed the stuffy political image after being made to carry out secret tasks by Matt Lucas.

The Little Britain star forced the politician to lie about his occupation telling housemates he was a boxer, a singer and a psychic.

He also had to tell one housemate he looked like Harry Potter and was made to crawl around the house on his hands and knees.

Now John's madcap antics have won the support of politicians across the country.

Fellow ginger Charles Kennedy MP sent his best wishes to John. He said: "It's great to see John doing well on the show.

"If he can show more people that doing politics has nothing to do with being dull, that can only be a good thing.

"The Scottish Youth Parliament does excellent work. I hope publicity from John's success will encourage more young Scots to get actively involved.

"Their generation has wider horizons and better access to information than any before it.

"Their impact on politics can be enormous – improving things for young people right now, but also engaging with the enormous issues facing the world as a whole."

Maureen Watt MSP, Minister for Schools and Skills, said: "It's a great opportunity for him to raise the profile of politics to a younger audience.

"I hope that John's commitment and enthusiasm to youth politics will demonstrate to the audience how it important it is for young people to participate."

Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, added: "John is highly committed to demonstrating that young people have a positive contribution to make to society and to representing young people's views effectively to politicians and others."

Edinburgh MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, a fellow redhead, said: "I'm sure John got the same teasing that I did at school. I therefore welcome anything he does to promote redheads.

"I wish him all the best and hope he can go on to win the show."