David Potts winner David Potts reveals he used to dress the same as his twin brother, but admits they are now ‘polar opposites’.
During his stint on the reality show, it was revealed that David has a secret twin with a very different life in professional football, who says people struggle to believe they’re related.
Engaged father-of-one Matthew Potts, 30, told MailOnline he even has to ‘provide evidence’ David is his brother because of how different they are.
Now, David has given an insight into what it was like growing up with his twin. He told New magazine: ‘Matthew and I grew up wearing the same clothes until we were six.
‘I can’t really imagine him now, walking around with his legs out and a hot pink blazer.’
‘We’re polar opposites. We’re non-identical, so we don’t even look alike. We don’t sound like each other either. He and my older brother are very similar – he’s more quiet, very chilled. I’m the different one, which I enjoy.
While David was scouted by bosses to star in Ibiza Weekender, Matthew became a physio therapist at Championship side Huddersfield Town.
Despite wearing identical outfits until they were 10, Matthew says he’s never used any fake tan and he sadly hasn’t inherited the same long legs as David, who flaunted his pins wearing a pair of hot pants during the show’s launch on Monday night.
Matthew has revealed his pride over watching David change Louis Walsh ‘s perception of his brother, saying people are often quick to judge but always end up loving his genuine personality.
He said: ‘We have gone down two totally different paths.’
‘It’s a thing for people when they find out who he is… I don’t go around shouting about it but when people do find out they are quite shocked and I always have to provide evidence we’re related because they don’t believe me, which is quite funny.
‘We got put in the same outfits and as twins you get put in the same bubble but the reality is – and as we have proven – we’re just totally completely different people.’
‘He’s loud when you first lay eyes on him and the celebrities in the house were quite taken aback by him at first but now, they are getting to know him, well within five minutes your perceptions of him change completely. It’s a credit to him, he’s great in that sense.’
Matthew says he and David’s family, including his older brother, mother and father, are all incredibly proud of how he’s established a career in the entertainment industry, which has seen him star on reality shows such as Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Ghost Trip.
Their joy comes after David endured a difficult childhood where he was bullied at school before coming out as gay.
It wasn’t until David spoke openly about his sexuality that he was fully able to embrace his true self, an uphill struggle Matthew admits has taught him a lot about the LGBTQ community.
He said: ‘David had a difficult time with bullying. He went through a rough spell growing up but then he became who he is today, and his confidence grew.’
‘It was difficult for me as well because I grew up with him being the way he was, and I never thought anything about it and all of a sudden, high school with all of the kids saying bad things about him… you just think, what’s wrong with him? And there was nothing wrong… nowadays we are in a society that’s a lot more open and accepting.
‘That’s why we are proud as well because he has overcome that part of life and it made him into the person he is now, he doesn’t care now and has so much confidence.’
‘From my perspective, it’s been a massive learning curve, and it’s given me a new appreciation of what he went through and as a community, what people go through growing up, the struggles they have, and it’s given me a bigger understanding of that in the best possible way.’
Matthew says it isn’t just their lives that have taken different directions but also their sense of style.
After being dressed in identical outfits for a decade, Matthew recalls David starting to experiment with fake tan, which as well as his dazzling white teeth and baring his hairless legs, is how fans will recognize him today.
Matthew said: ‘He looks incredible! He’s got the best pair of legs I’ve ever seen on a man. I didn’t get them myself… I got a half decent hair line and that’s about it.’
‘The tanning is not for me, I don’t mind a sun bed every now and then.
‘It all started around the time that he came out more publicly with my family. It was a weight off his shoulders, and he was able to be himself finally, which was a humbling moment.’
David’s brother says it was a dream come true for the ITV2 star to be cast on Celebrity Big Brother after he grew up watching the show.
He predicts his mind was ‘blown’ by fellow housemates Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh because the X Factor was also a staple in their household on a Saturday night.
The family relished in David changing the opinion of former judge Louis, who originally agreed with Sharon that he should be put ‘in danger’ of elimination after they analyzed the housemates during the first night from a secret room.
He said: ‘X Factor was big in our house growing up so meeting Sharon and Louis will have blown his mind.
‘Obviously with Louis, his perceptions of him weren’t the best at first but he has been himself and turned a corner with him right away.’
‘He would love to win it and it would mean the world to him. He has every opportunity to do it because people will realize how real and honest he is. I think he resonates well with people.’