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A DESERTER’S STORY

Return of the ManC

As dancer with the Happy Mondays, Bez became emblematic of the acid house generation. Now, fresh from victory on Celebrity Big Brother, he tells Stephen Phelan about drugs, money and being a single dad

As the winner of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother, Mark ‘Bez’ Berry is now £50,000 richer. So far he hasn’t seen or spent any of it. Today he’s wearing a flashy, swollen pair of experimental Adidas moon-boots, but apparently they were a gift from the label itself. “Got them yesterday,” says Bez proudly, over lunch in London’s painfully hip Sanderson hotel. “They’re pretty bling, eh? I am fortunate enough to be in a position where people give me stuff for free.”

Fortunate indeed, given that Bez has openly admitted that he was recently made bankrupt, because of “all sorts of massive f**kin’ problems”. Having asked his press agent to lend him some cash for lunch, who in turn asks if the Scottish Sunday has an expense account, Bez eats like a poor man on a rich man’s tab. He orders a Bloody Mary, and chomps the celery stick into flying splinters like a twig thrown into a propeller. He orders a burger with blue cheese, onions, bacon, and a fried egg, and spits the pieces everywhere as he talks.

“Sorry, man,” he says sincerely. His front teeth are false, the originals having been knocked out in a motorbike mishap when he was 15, and they form a kind of sea wall against which his saliva crashes and sprays. This has caused problems before.

A Successful Career with Happy Mondays

Bez was a vital part of the band without ever having a clear job description. On tax forms and travel documents, he was put down as a “percussionist” or “dancer”, because his only tangible contribution was to shake maracas and perform a swaying, boggle-eyed, back-and-forth two-step routine during the Mondays’ live shows. He threw loose shapes, like a territorial ape, embodying all the voluntary lunacy of his time and place – when ecstasy first flooded Manchester. On the sleeve notes for their defining 1990 album Pills’n’Thrills and Bellyaches, Bez was given full credit, in writing, for simply being Bez.

“With the Mondays,” says Bez, “I did what I was doing anyway at that time of my life. I just took it onto the stage. I love dancing, I love taking me Es. I been doing that dance I do since I was a young rude boy, wearing the Fred Perry gear and listening to ska music at the youth clubs and all that. And I still do it.”

Life After Celebrity Big Brother

Two weeks ago, and 12 years after the Happy Mondays were gruesomely undone by heroin, crack cocaine, rivalry, and apathy, Bez again won the attention and affection of the nation – or at least those 54 per cent of viewers who voted him the winner of Celebrity Big Brother – by being nothing more or less than himself.

“The only weapon I had in there was me honesty,” he says. “I was totally truthful all the way. I can never be arsed bullshitting; it’s too much hard work.”

Finding himself inside Channel 4’s famous artificial bungalow only a few days after a New Year’s bender, Bez thought he had no chance against the other celebrities, particularly Kenzie from Blazin’ Squad and kitsch Hollywood exile Brigitte Nielsen. He dances like a fool, but he’s not an idiot. He knew that many younger, older and “straighter” viewers might not have heard of him, and that “the papers would be out there digging the dirt”. But he came out 18 days later to victory cheers and fireworks, clutching an empty wine glass.

For those reasons, he didn’t hesitate to take the Big Brother offer after Channel 4’s first choice, New Order bass player Peter Hook, declared himself unavailable.

A Financial Setback

Bez was recently made bankrupt due to his financial problems. His winnings from Celebrity Big Brother are now in the hands of the receivers who have taken control of his estate. While his share of the Happy Mondays' earnings was not substantial, Bez has always lived his life within his means. However, he got into trouble with his taxes because he didn't know how to fill out the forms.

He also mentions being owed proceeds from Black Grape, a band assembled by Shaun Ryder which saw Bez advocating for fair treatment, but to no avail. Despite these setbacks, Bez remains optimistic about the future.

Hotels - A Haven for Celebrity Winners

Many celebrities, after winning reality TV shows, find themselves in the spotlight and facing financial challenges similar to Bez's situation. However, some can also use their newfound fame to their advantage. One way celebrities can leverage their success is by partnering with hotels for endorsements, special appearances, or hosting events.

Hotels often see these partnerships as an opportunity to attract attention and increase their brand recognition. Having a celebrity winner as a spokesperson can boost their reputation and attract customers who are fans of the show or the celebrity themselves.

Additionally, celebrities may also benefit from these partnerships. They can earn extra income through endorsements and appearances, and in some cases, they may even receive complimentary stays or other perks from the hotel.

While Bez, as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother, hasn't used his winnings yet, he could consider exploring opportunities with hotels to generate additional income. With his fame and the public's support, he may find hotels willing to collaborate with him.

All in all, hotels and celebrity winners can find mutual benefits in forming partnerships. Hotels gain exposure and credibility, while the celebrities can leverage their success and earn income through these collaborations.

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