Alice Levine talks Big Brother, Charity Shopping and Jedward...
With the first and original fly-on-the-wall show returning to our screens a few weeks ago, people questioned whether Big Brother had anything more to give. Since then, it has proved the critics and the skeptics wrong, pulling in a staggering eight million viewers for it's launch show.
Alice tells FemaleFirst about BB's sister, spin-off show, Bit on the Side: "It's a catch up show on after the main show and we have special guests, behind the scenes exclusives, we go up to the house and watch what's happening in there.
"On Sunday we have a game show with one of the evictees and celebrity superfans so it's the ultimate fan show basically, it's got all best bits and some added extras."
Attracted to the iconic reputation the programme has, Alice took the job co-hosting the Bit on the Side as she felt it would be great to be a part of something so memorable.
"I love working on the show! I think of the main things was the team because a lot of people who work on Big Brother have worked on it since the beginning so it feels like a big family that comes back together every year to do it so that makes it a really lovely environment," she explains.
They [Jedward] are so unusual...I couldn't believe it, they were preening eachother - it was like watching a Natural History programme!
"I think having all the celebrity contestants in the Bit on The Side studio, with Jedward performing was possible one of the most surreal moments of my entire life and actually thinking that Jedward's performance was actually pretty good!"
"They are so unusual...I couldn't believe it, they were preening eachother - it was like watching a Natural History programme!" She laughs.
Alice got her first taste of presenting whilst studying at University. She says that this was the 'first time the seed was planted,' and recommends that any potential presenters make the most of student media for experience.
"Student TV and radio are great grounding for all presenting. Just to get used to coming up with an idea, making it and getting it out there, I think that's a really good pattern and a good habit to get into.
"I think that another great way to get into presenting is just to shoot your own stuff and just get it out there because YouTube is just a great forum for that sort of thing."
Some of her favourite presenters are Simon Amstell and Miquita Oliver from Pop World 'back in the day,' and enjoys watching those who bring fun and humour in front of the camera.
Though you wouldn't think it, Alice admits that she is a naturally nervous person and feels the undoubted pressure to look great all the time.
"I quite enjoy getting glammed up and I enjoy picking outfits and things. You have to not really listen to what anyone else says, as long as you feel comfortable, because if you're not, when you're presenting that comes across," she explains.
With her bold hair colour, perfect make-up and statement fashion, inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere when Alice is looking to put new outfits together.
"I think if I see something I like I'll take a snap of it. If I see something in a shop window or someone on the train I think 'I can use that' and just think about how I could use that to suit me."
Alice also looks to magazines and the web for inspiration with her favourite place to shop being charity shops.
"I quite like the element of charity shops not being sorted out. I always feel with a vintage shop they've picked the best bits to show you whereas with charity shops you can find a real gem. My mum is amazing at it, she has hawk eyes, so I go with her and follow her lead!
"I like to mix this up with highstreet pieces. New Look is really good at the moment and Asos is amazing."
We may all have our faves in this year's Big Brother house, but is it too soon to be picking a winner? And although he may annoy the lovely Miss Levine, she thinks that Mark will do well in the house.
"There's no outright winner for me at the moment, but I think one will definitely emerge, they just need a bit more time. A few people have slipped under the radar especially some of the girls."
Alice giggles: " I think Mark is going to do really well although he grates on me so bad, like literally, I cannot watch the man. But I know a lot of people are big fans so I think he'll do well."
"He's good entertainment isn't he? He gives you good screen time. Although I do want to put my hand into the TV screen and pull him out and give him a good talking to!
Catch Big Brother's Bit on the Side, weekdays and weekends on Channel 5 after the main show.
FemaleFirst Jenna Fordie twitter: @Jenna_FAM