PARENTS of Worcestershire's Big Brother stars have issued a warning to the new contestants' families ahead of tonight's new series of the reality TV show.

The mother of last year's finalist, Nush Nowak, and father of one of the previous year's stars, Tim Culley, both advise families to "keep their head down".

"They need to be prepared to be scrutinised and receive a lot of attention," said Neil Culley, Tim's father, who owned the Swan Hotel and Neilanos restaurant in Upton-upon-Severn before selling up, retiring and moving to Doncaster.

"We enjoyed watching Big Brother while Tim was on the show and we felt he behaved like a perfect gentleman.

"But we were disappointed at the way it was edited. It showed a lot of bad bits and the downside was that my wife got very upset by all the attention. The contestants are prepared for it, but the families aren't."

Ex-Malvern College student Tim Culley, who became well-known for his catch phrase, "comprende?", is now working for an advertising firm in Cape Town, South Africa, after making the most of his TV fame.

"He's planning to come back to the UK to visit in the summer, but I don't think he's got any plans to tune into Big Brother, and nor have we," said Mr Culley.

Vegetarian Nush, who came second last year, has been enjoying her new-found fame, attending showbiz parties and appearing on television shows, despite suffering serious leg injuries in a mugging.

"It's been a wonderful experience for her," said her mother Mrs Shields, who lives in Malvern. "But I would say to people don't do it unless you're prepared for a complete life change and prepared to fly by the seat of your pants. She's met incredible people and will be meeting the Dalai Lama.

"I would advise the families of the new contestants to go away for three months to the other side of the country while Big Brother is on.

"People who you think are dear to you will crawl out from under stones and sell their stories to the highest bidder, and that's very hurtful. Overall, I would say the whole experience is bitter-sweet - some of the experiences I could definitely have done without."

For more on Big Brother, see tomorrow's star feature in the Evening News.