From Josie Gibson to Alison Hammond, Big Brother has produced a plethora of reality TV icons, but perhaps none were more entertaining than the ultimate double act, Samanda.
While Jedward made waves on two editions of the celebrity spin-off, with their outrageous antics, it was Staffordshire twins Samantha and Amanda who first caught the attention of the nation.
The pair arrived in the house in 2007, during the eighth series of the show, narrowly falling short to Brian Belo in the final. And while they failed to claim the number one spot, they made a splash that’s still remembered 16 years on.
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As many siblings do, Samanda had the uncanny ability to finish each other’s sentences, often making the audience chuckle with their witty remarks. But while they became renowned for their likeable personalities, they also possessed remarkable intelligence.
(Image: PA)
In a bid to help others, the pair enrolled in a social work degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. And it was during their time on the course, a reality TV mad Amanda persuaded her sibling to audition for the show.
After their incredible run, which saw them survive 94 days, utilising their newfound popularity, the double act became national icons. With offers coming in thick and fast, they wrote a column, modelled for Knickerbox and released a workout DVD.
Showcasing their talent, they released two singles, including a rendition of Aqua’s hit ‘Barbie Girl’, which climbed all the way to number 26 in the UK charts. In addition, the pair created their own fragrance, which they inventively named, ‘Samanda’.
(Image: PA)
The sisters signed a bumper deal with Naomi Campbell’s agent, which gave them the opportunity to model in her Fashion For Relief show. However, while they enjoyed the glitz and glam, they never forgot their ultimate aim of helping other people.
They confessed on GMTV that they had already made their first million within just weeks of leaving the house after their successful ventures.
With their background in social work close to their heart, they raised thousands of pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. They also teamed up with NHS North Staffordshire, to launch a stop-smoking campaign.
Furthermore, they backed a personal safety campaign by the Lucie Blackman Trust and also blessed Staffordshire Oatcake with a social media post on Oatcake Day back in 2010.
(Image: Channel 4)
While the pair enjoyed their stint in the spotlight, they ultimately decided to move away from fame in favour of living everyday lives. They both started working for fashion brand, Angeleye, with Sam as a marketer and Amanda taking on a role in the merchandising department.
In an interview with The Sentinel, Amanda said: “In a way, I’m glad that we entered the house as naive as we were. It did us a favour. People who go on the show knowing what is going to come after never seem to do that well. Whereas with us, because we weren’t expecting what happened when it did, everything was a bonus.
“We were just so grateful, and we had such a fun time. I think we stayed quite grounded through the whole process, although I look back and think we didn’t have the first idea.“
Samantha added: “We weren’t prepared for the impact of the house on our lives after we left the show. Obviously, being in Stoke, we didn’t have the first idea of having an agent, for example. We thought the show might be a nice way to meet people and have fun, but really, we didn’t have the first clue. At the time, we were really bubbly young, naive girls, and people still think that’s our character now.
(Image: Channel 4)
She continued: “That’s who we were then, but of course we’ve matured. Every time we meet someone new, they tell us that we’re different to how they expected. I think it’s good to change people’s opinions, but I understand that there’s a perception of us. That’s why people who come out of reality TV sometimes struggle to get jobs because there’s an image of them that just sticks.
“I don’t think we have any regrets, but the one thing we do sometimes look back on and think about is the fact we wished we had more control after we left the programme.”
As of 2023, the pair have become mums and continued their journey into the world of fashion. Amanda went back to university, successfully completing a diploma in buying and merchandising from the Fashion Retail Academy and now works for ASOS. Samantha has also achieved a lot, bagging a role at a creative fashion agency as a senior sales manager.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
