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 by Rachel Parkinson
Every
year, Channel 4’s flagship ratings-grabber, Big Brother, divides opinion
like no other programme possibly could. There are those who claim they’d
rather sit on rusty nails at a marathon Celine Dion concert than watch a
group of wannabe-celebs in a house all day, and then there are those who
are glued to their telly box when the latest BB hits the screens and
can’t get enough.
Here, LINC reporter, Rachel Parkinson, tells us why she’s certainly in
the latter camp, and why neither all BB contestants are necessarily
fakes.
Hands up who watches Big Brother.
Come on, don’t be shy. I’m sure, despite the endless articles from the
magazine critics and ‘intellectuals’ slating reality television and
insisting that they would much rather spend their Tuesday nights
watching a documentary on the life and times of Charles Dickens, that
even they can’t resist a sneaky peek at this year’s bunch of housemates…
Accidentally of course, whilst flicking over to the History channel…
I’ll be the first to admit, I am hooked.
I like to think of myself as an intelligent person yet, as soon as the
clock strikes ten, my television is turned over to Channel Four to watch
the latest antics of sixteen people I’ve never even heard of before.
But who can blame me?
We were all glued to our screens when Alexandra was forcibly removed for
threatening to get her gangster friends on the family and friends of
every housemate who evicted her. Yeah, right. I’d bet that Every one of
the millions of BB Viewers must have been thinking, “how can she have
the nerve to say that to fifteen other strangers?”
However she managed to do it, it makes for great telly.
The rule of the selection must be, “pick the sixteen most weird
applicants” because the clash of personalities in the house is what
makes the programme essential viewing.
From Nasty Nick in the very first series, to Spencer (also known as
Spanky, and my first childhood celebrity crush) a few series back, to
lovable Luke in BB9, there are no two characters the same.
To all the people who think Big Brother is just a bunch of mindless
idiots shoved together in a house, I pose the following question:
Is there anybody that you know who acts like they have discovered the
eighth wonder of the world when really they have simply learnt the words
“hilarious” and “bizarre”?
And who can forget Jade Goody’s legendary catchphrase; “Am I mingin’?!”
Yes, my dear, you are.
But the point is that the population of England were quoting that phrase
in every gym, restaurant and bar a few summers back. Showing just how
popular and addictive Big Brother is.
Added to this, Big Brother gives ordinary people who are not, and
probably never will be celebrities, the chance to show their face on
television.
And if they’re fake people who only want their fifteen minutes of fame,
well, then they release a fitness video before disappearing off the face
of the earth, never to be heard of again.
That said, occasionally there is the odd genuine person.
Take Mikey from the current series; he is genuine and deserves to be
recognised; which he probably wouldn’t be without Big Brother.
And let’s not forget the all-important conversation fillers for
workplaces with particularly boring colleagues, or tutorials at college
when you’re forced to sit with someone who is as interesting as Roy
Cropper. Stuck for something to say? Try, “Did you see Big Brother last
night?” and watch the conversation flow like champagne.
True, there are many bad aspects to the show, such as the wannabe
celebrities that come into the house every year (think Sam and Amanda).
You know the ones, those who pretend to be brainless bimbos in order to
get further than the first eviction, and of course, there’s always the
annoying ramblings of Davina McCall to deal with every Friday.
However, if you can get past all this, then I suggest you stick Channel
Four on tonight and make your own mind up. I guarantee you, you’ll be
glad you did.
What’s your opinion on Big Brother? Tedious tosh or terrific
telly? Do you share Rachel’s thoughts or are you in complete
disagreement? Drop us a line at
linconline@wlct.org and let us know!
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