We Need To Shake It Up A Bit

And so Kris has gone. No surprise. From the moment that BB engineered him to be up for eviction, there was little doubt that it would be the curly haired tosspot waving goodbye this week. I was delighted to see the back of him. Not particularly because of the fake romance with Sophie - though I think it's a bit more genuine on her side. I've seen nothing from Kris to convince me that he's in this one for the long haul. Give him a week of having girls chasing him (why they would want to do that is beyond me, take away the hair and there's not much else to him). What I really disliked about him was his almost bullyish treatment of Halfwit; it showed a nasty little streak to the guy, and made uncomfortable viewing from time to time. It'll be interesting to see how Team Cool behave now he's gone. If nothing else, it might have planted a little doubt in their heads, as it begins to dawn on them that perhaps they're not the most popular with the Great British viewing public.

I've spent the last couple of weeks hoping that BB would start shaking it up a bit, but was beginning to doubt we were ever going to get some new housemates. So overall it's good news to hear that a whole new crop of HMs will be entering the house next Friday. While it'll be interesting, as always, to see how the new folks fit in (or not), I do feel it's a bit too late for new people to enter. I would have preferred this 'twist' to happen 2-3 weeks ago; it could have really made an impact. Now, with half the series already gone, I just feel too little too late.

However, maybe the 10th anniversary stunts planned for this week will shake things up in the meantime. Personally, I don't think the visits by ex-housemates from previous years will necessarily cause discord in the house, but I do think it will be fun. I'm really looking forward to seeing Nikki, Nasty Nick, Michelle Bass, Rex et al returning. A bit disappointed that some of my own favourites won't be making an appearance, but nonetheless I'm looking forward to an entertaining week. Let's hope I won't be disappointed.....

Marcus Speaks...and the producers cringe

Well here I was sitting down to revel in Sree's departure tonight, only to find it totally upstaged by Marcus's phenomenal diary room "conversation" following his argument with Sree over the shopping budget. I started to cheer when he spoke back and challenged Big Brother over its blatant hypocrisy and PC behaviour. It's the first time a housemate has actually called BB, and I could picture the producers squirming up in the control room as Marcus refused to play ball and tell them they were right.

BB had the cheek to suggest that Marcus was being racist by imitating Sree's Indian accent. This is laughable, considering Halfwit's accent is imitated by a number of housemates (the Kris gang etc) regularly, and not a word is said. And as Marcus rightly pointed out, if he had mimicked Noirin's Irish accent or any of the other housemates accents, he wouldn't have been spoken to at all. I'm totally with Marcus, and it's about time someone called the show out on this. In a way, it's now a bit of a shame (only a very little bit, mind) that Sree won't be in the house next week.

Now, no doubt opinion will be split on this topic. For everyone who applauds Marcus, there'll be someone else who disagrees completely. And of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion. For me, I'm happy to see a housemate finally stand up to Big Brother. Let's hope it continues.

Come on Big Brother, toughen up!

I'm getting a bit annoyed at Big Brother producers; they're being far too soft on this year's housemates. Why were they allowed to eat all the ice cream from the Italian task? Surely the point of the HM's losing last week's shopping task was to make them last the week with low food rations. Time to toughen up, that's when all the major arguments start, so come on Big Brother!

Just Go Now

Sree during this week's Italian task has been one of the most infuriating TV experiences I've had in quite a while. First off, he declares himself to have an excellent memory - even as I, along with the housemates and most of the viewing public (I'd imagine) watched in doubt, and then inevitably went on to show just how bad a memory he actually has. Every time he answered the phone to take Big Brother's icecream order, I watched through my fingers as he messed it up. This wouldn't be so bad if he didn't then procalim himself to be performing excellently in the diary room. Deluded, deluded, deluded. Honestly, I'm so excited about tonight's eviction, firstly because he will definitely go, and secondly because he honestly believes there's no chance this will happen. I look forward to seeing the shocked look on his face when reality dawns.

Sree Must Surely Go

I can't believe it's taken this long, but Sree is finally up for eviction, and I, for one, am counting down the hours until the smug smile is wiped off his face as he's kicked out of the house. It's baffled me how he's managed to elude nominations this long. I find him intensely annoying, fake as hell, with a deluded sense of his own importance.

Coupled with my dislike for Sree is my increasing pity for Halfwit. OK, so the guy can be a bit annoying, and possibly comes across as a bit patronising, but overall I think he's a decent enough bloke, who's unfortunately stuck in a house with a bunch of idiots (my favourite Siavash aside). As the weeks go on and the public keep him in, it's becoming uncomfortable viewing, watching as the other housemates (Lisa, the loathsome Kris, Karly etc) get more and more nasty towards him. At this stage, I feel they are bullying him, and it's not nice viewing. I found myself squirming as I watched how they treated him during the Italian task. It wasn't his fault that they messed up the song, and it was disappointing that no-one in the house stood up for him. While I am positive he'll stay this Friday, I know it means another 7 days of nastiness for him. I'm hoping that he'll begin to get stronger and argue back more - after all, it doesn't really make any difference. They'll all nominate him no matter what he does, so go on Halfwit, stir it up!

Big Brother Rules!

I've decided I'm quite enjoying BB10. I know the viewership figures are down - apparently the decision to axe the live feed hasn't gone down too well - but I think it's a bit of a shame. I think this year's series is one of the best of the past few years.

So here, in no particular order, are some of the reasons why I think BB10 rules!

Big Brother Bites Back: Big Brother has become much more sarky this year. Recognising that the housemates are generally tabloid obsessed fame seekers, Big Brother has decided to get in on the act. I've loved the ban on fake romances in the house, and the much more tongue-in-cheek tone being taken. It's added a nice element of humour to the show.

Housemates "being themselves": For so long we've grown used to seeing housemates playing up to the cameras, exaggerating their behaviour, but this year I feel there are a few of the gang who are actually "being themselves", to use that overused phrase trotted out by countless ex-housemates over the years. For all his creepy behaviour, Sree's reaction to Noirin's knockback has come across as being very genuine. I know there's been a bit of a debate around Angel and her hunger strike, but again I honestly think her behaviour has been straight up. And of course, my personal favourite housemate, Siavash, is coming across as a genuine guy. Now I may be very naive (sadly, even after 10 years of the show I still have the capacity to read people appallingly badly), but I feel these guys....and maybe add Freddy to that list....are being themselves, though I guess time will tell.

No thugs: Now don't get me wrong, there are a good few argumentative, occasionally obnoxious and irritating characters in the Big Brother house. However, it's nice to see that Endemol resisted the urge to put an extreme person into the house, like the nasty Alex and Charley from previous seasons. While those two certainly stirred things up in the house, they just were not nice people. I don't think there's anyone in the house that would rank up there with those two, and for that I think it'll make for a nicer (and entertaining) house.

I'll end by saying to those BB doubters out there: give it a chance this year, it might just be worth it.

So why all the hate for Halfwit?

Freddy, aka Halfwit, is up for eviction for the second week running. This time round, he faces off against Cairon, who I reckon will be the one to go. I think Cairon's suffered from being the youngest in the house. A bit too young for the girls, he appears to have taken to sleeping in protest...a lot.

But back to Freddy. I kind of feel a bit sorry for this guy. I'm sure he's probably a bit irritating to live with, but I'm a bit baffled as to how he could be so bad as to attract 9 nominations, while the intensely annoying and increasingly creepy Sree got away with a mere 2 noms. I was sure he was a definite for this week, very surprised he got away.

I was checking out Digital Spy's BB forum today, where Noirin was getting quite a bit of stick about herself and Sree. I'm surprised about that. At the end of the day, I think she's stuck in a very awkward situation. She clearly doesn't fancy the guy at all, but doesn't want to upset him. I don't think she's doing this just to be nice for the cameras; maybe it's my naive side coming through, but I do think she's being genuine (and I am feeling a good bit of sympathy for her having to STILL draw those stupid glasses on her face - seriously, time to stop this, it's just tedious).

I wouldn't be surprised if Sree pushes it a step too far over the next couple of days. Watch this space.....

So long Saffia / Sophia / Whatever

And so the first eviction took place, with Sophia biting the bullet. Glad she went, not a huge loss to the house. Unfortunately for Sophia, her eviction was overshadowed by the departure of the "charming" Saffia, who overnight decided she missed her kids too much and had to leave.

I think it's interesting that the first time I heard Saffia mentioning her kids was when she decided to leave. Up until then, she was quite happy in her role as the Queen Bee with her devoted followers (Kris and Charley). It was only when Kris decided that getting it together with Sophie would get him more column inches that Saffia began to get itchy feet - predictable if nothing else. I know there's been a lot of debate on this subject - for what it's worth, I didn't like that she left her kids to go into the house, got blatantly upset when she realised she wasn't going to get her man, and then all of a sudden up pops the kids as a handy get out clause.

I, for one, am quite happy she left. I didn't like her in the house, though it would have been quite amusing to see her get increasingly annoyed as Kris and Sophie (sorry Dogface) carried on their 'not-so' love affair in front of her.....OK, maybe she should have stayed in after all.

Thank goodness for Sree, who at this stage is beginning to give me the creeps with his stalking of Noirin. He's overpowering, he doesn't get the message and has a very warped view about what people think about him - perfect for the BB house in other words!

I'm A Celebrity US

For lovers of The Hills, the new series of I'm A Celebrity US is very exciting, starring Spencer and Heidi. Predictably, I cannot stand Spencer - from the moment he arrived on The Hills, he's come across as a creep. Funnily though, my other half has decided he likes him - he thinks that Spencer is actually a master media manipulator. Don't know if I'd go that far, but I'd agree that he definitely plays up the whole evil persona. Seriously, there is no way he could honestly believe some of the BS he comes out with. I mean - stating that them being on I'm A Celebrity is devaluing their celebrity - that made me giggle.

Speidi has since left the jungle (after about 4 or 5 aborted attempts), and I'm almost ashamed to say that I miss them. Sure they were media whores, and a complete waste of space, but they were very entertaining. And the void they've left has, for the most part, been filled by our old IAC UK friend Janice Dickinson. Now I'm a longtime fan of Janice, from back in the early days of America's Next Top Model. But, I have to admit she's disappointed me a bit this time round. I expected the constant moaning and the "Oh Man's", but her behaviour, a lot of the time, has not been cool. Urinating in the camp and not owning up to it, then effectively stealing and eating a granola bar and not owning up to it - it's disappointing behaviour from a woman of her age, and it's made me change my opinion of her. Not good Janice, not good.

Bye bye Speidi, hello Holly. Heidi's sister Holly has arrived, and despite everyone's worries, has turned out to be fairly cool so far. Way nicer and more rounded than she's ever come across on The Hills, she does her fair share, is good at challenges (badly needed in the womens team), and appears to have a bit of a blossoming romance going on with Sanjaya. Speaking of whom, I am loving this guy. I didn't really see the series of American Idol with Sanjaya, so I'm new to him (apart from the ongoing Sanjaya 'appearances' on E's The Soup, which sets him up as a bit of an eejit). I'm crossing my fingers for a little romance between these two, I actually think they would make a really cute couple.

Big Brother's First Week

As a fan of Big Brother from way back in Series 1, my summer always tends to start out the same way. Me declaring that I might tune in for the first episode, but of course wouldn't spend my summer glued to the box every evening, only to do exactly that. So, it was with the usual mix of anticipation, interest, and a wee bit of dread, I tuned in last Friday to check out the latest bunch of fame hunters ready to take over my life for the next three months.

This year, rather than bore my other half to tears trying to engage him in conversation about a programme he has less than no interest in, I thought I'd throw my random BB - and other reality TV for that matter - ramblings up here, and see what happens. It could be that nobody ever discovers this blog, but if you do, welcome, hope you enjoy. I don't intend this to be a review of each show; it's just my personal opinions, which you may or may not agree with.

First Impressions:

I tend not to decide on the first night what I think of the housemates (or "non-housemates" as it turned out). So I've left it a few days to try and get to know them a bit. Week One favourite is Siavash. Didn't really like his VT, but have been pleasantly surprised by him this week. Seems like a nice guy, and I love the way he plays peacemaker. Only time will tell whether he'll keep on course, but so far, go Siavash!

On the flip side, Sophia is probably the housemate I'm liking least. Conversly, she had one of the better VTs, but from the moment she walked in the door, she proceeded to bitch and moan about Saffia. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Saffia at all - aside from the furore around her leaving her two young kids to go into the house, I don't find her particularly pleasant and so far feel she's not the most genuine of people in there. That said, Sophia seemed to take an instant dislike to her, which was slightly baffling (though understandable).

Kris has disappointed me. My superficial side thought he was really cute, but so far he hasn't done anything of note...time will tell I suppose. I quite like Sophie, Noirin, Angel and Rodrigo too, none of the rest are really grabbing my attention right now.

As for tomorrow's eviction, I'm a bit torn about who I'd like to go. I definitely prefer Freddy (or Halfwit (as he's now called following the most irritating task that the non-housemates had to perform - don't get me started on the non-housemate thing. Seriously, Noirin has had to draw glasses on her face for days, while all Lisa had to do was answer a phone?? go figure). Sorry, went off on a tangent there. Anyway, I do prefer Freddy, though haven't made up my mind on him yet, but keeping Sophia in would create a hell of a lot more aggro in the house. Either way, I'm looking forward to the first proper eviction of the series. Roll on Friday night!