16/06/08 - VIP Scot on Big Brother 9

Michael Hughes, (33) from Kilwinning, Ayrshire a presenter and producer on RNIB’s Insight Radio, is a housemate in this year’s season of the popular reality TV show Big Brother. He entered the house on Thursday 5 June becoming the first blind person to join the UK show since it began in 2000.

A blind person appearing in such a high profile show presents many opportunities to challenge stereotypes and attitudes to blindness amongst the public.

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Ciara Smyth, a spokesperson for RNIB, the UK's leading sight loss charity, said: “Blind people are often relegated to niche specialist programmes either on TV or on radio. Even when they feature as characters on dramas or comedies they're often played by sighted people. The effect of this 'invisibility' is that many people don't understand blindness. They have very little idea about the challenges that someone who is blind might face and they have little experience of seeing someone who is blind get on with their life and live independently.

"So, the impact of having someone blind on Big Brother, with all the media interest that the programme generates, could be profound. However, it is important to note that no one person can be expected to represent all blind and partially sighted people. We hope that audiences and housemates will judge Michael as an individual first and foremost and that his blindness will not define him.”

Michael applied to appear on the show independently and will be taking unpaid leave from RNIB while he remains in the house.

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