The Sussex-based company which fitted the pool in the Big Brother house is confident it can withstand whatever the contestants throw at it.

From stripteases to raunchy massages, the pool has set the scene for some of the steamiest goings-on in the country's most infamous household.

Jade Goody shocked viewers in the third Big Brother when she stripped naked in the hexagonal pool and millions have watched this year's housemates frolicking in it.

Easy Pools UK in Haywards Heath is the company which came up with the idea of having a pool in the Big Brother garden.

Husband-and-wife team Estelle and Peter Michaels approached programme makers Endemol UK after the end of the second series and asked if their pools could make an appearance in the hit reality TV show.

The company agreed and the couple have now seen two of their pools feature in the house.

Mrs Michaels said: "Big Brother had spas before we got involved. It struck us that spas would cause noise problems for the film crew so we thought we'd suggest our pools as an alternative.

"Last year we set ourselves the goal of having one of our pools in a national television show. Being one of the most popular programmes, Big Brother was the ideal choice. It was fantastic publicity.

"Watching the housemates in the pool, we are not worried they will damage it. We are confident it will not go wrong."

In preparation for the show, the couple travelled to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, when the house was being built earlier this year. They had extensive talks with Markus Blee, the designer who created the house and garden, to decide which pool model was suitable.

During their first visit, the house was a shell and the garden a big hole. Tonnes of rubble were bought in to raise the ground level.

Mrs Michaels said: "We visited the house about six times and slowly saw it take shape.

"The pool may look as though it is buried underground but in fact the soil was built up round it. We are very pleased with the end result. It looks great."

Should the pool spring a leak, a team of engineers is on standby to rush to its aid. So far, Mrs Michaels said there have been no emergencies.

She said: "I know if there were things going wrong, they would never be broadcast."

Easy Pools imports the pool units from Italy and France and has sold them across the UK.

Mrs Michaels said almost any garden could follow Big Brother's lead and be fitted with a similar pool for about £5,000.

She said: "We have fitted pools everywhere, from a semi-detached house in Blackpool to a Premiership footballer's home in Surrey."

The company has not yet signed a deal for Big Brother Five.

Thursday June 26, 2003