Big Brother contestant Vanessa Layton-McIntosh is not the only one who has become famous thanks to her appearance on the reality TV game show.

Cousin Solayr Layton-Thomas says she is frequently recognised as a family member and has had the opportunity to appear on Big Brother's Little Brother twice in the four weeks Vanessa has been in the house.

The 18-year-old, an A-level student at Riddlesdown High School, says the live TV appearances don't faze her.

"I'm not bothered by the cameras at all being an actor," she said. "As long as you don't panic it's fine, if you panic then things go wrong."

Although hopeful for Vanessa's success in the show, Solayr says she misses going out with the 19-year-old former Croydon High School student to Croydon nightspots Lloyd's Milan Bar, Escapade and Edwards.

"She's the one that gets me into trouble. She's the one who has the bright ideas. It has been happening since I was tiny," she said.

She also said Vanessa would be dying to eat at one of their two favourite restaurants, the Bungarye, in Thornton Heath or Nando's, after weeks of meagre rations in the Big Brother house.