Big Brother 7

[Jo]

what is this news? tell us more!

[Claret & Blue Army]

jo said:

what is this news? tell us more!

In one of the Sunday red tops it mentioned that this years housemates would be split into 2 teams under the leadership of two ex housemates. Hopefully just speculation as the idea of a divide in 2002 didn't work at all.



BB1 Review

Sada
Way too wishy washy and new age. Self opinionated and deservedly the first person to get the boot. Her annoying voice and constant whining (Mainly over the shopping) contributed to my rather large phone bill in the second week.

Andy
Cringeworthy the way he talked of his sexual exploits and was I the only one to be put off by that tuft of grey/white hair? Notice how on the night the guys dressed up in drag he was the one who got the least attention from the girls so made a right pillock of himself on his own

Caroline (Caggy)
Really irritating laugh this old Brummie let the midlands down with her argumentative ways and looked a mess on the many occasions when she blubbed. Her arguments with Craig in particular did the scouse lad great credit in his chances of winning

Nick
Compelling to watch to see what he'd do next. So good in the posh villain character that I genuinely thought he must have been a scripted plant. Easily the best initial hook of the show.
Learned how to turn what could have been a terrible situation to his advantage...or was that the aim all along?

Nichola
Gobby bald northerner who often shouted down others in a crude way if they didn't agree with what she said. Lost her way when Caroline went and went out in a whimper. Some of her vocal performances were unbearable although the argument with Darren was funny.

Thomas
Easily the most non understood housemate ever...and every time he spoke I (And the other housemates it seems) couldn't understand what he said either...even fellow countrywoman Anna. Serious play for Mel rendered obsolete by propogating Claire

Claire
The replacement for Nick lived in Bracknell and had a hockey playing boyfriend (Never did work out who it was), created a huge splash with the boys and hampered Mels chances of winning as Claire brought out the green side of her. Nowadays the newbie housemate is old hat but it was a shocking revelation at the time. Nice girl

Mel
Sassy go getter who knew how to pla the boys for her own benefit. Had Andy, Thomas, Darren and Craig to an extent "fetching her sticks". Always far more studious than given credit for and was the first to properly suss out Nick. Marked as the first serious totty although looks positively plain by those who followed in later years

Darren
My most hated housemate until Marco and Maxsia came along. Played all the cards from the off to get votes like the most desparate of politicians. Casually mentioned "The mother of his 3 children" regularly in a Hey look I'm a sensitive father but single now ladies. Also upped the camp card to suit his needs. Nominations were brick at the telly time with gems like "I'm nominating Mel because she's missing her mum" and "Craig, because he needs to see how his business is going as he's worrying about it"

Anna
Very quiet start in fact almost unnoticed for the first few weeks. On the verge of being the first walker but had second thoughts. Came into her own as Craigs most serious threat in the confrontation with Nick as she held the mediator role perfectly whilast still giving a good account of herself. As a skateboarding lesbian ex nun I'm guessing the Big Brother house must have seemed normal at times!

Craig
Deserved winner for what he did with the prize money even though the intention had slipped out beforehand in an attempt to persuade people to vote for him. His late night story tellings were a joy to listen to and would have seriously benefitted further were the coverage then to be like now. Stood up to Nick in the class battle perfectly and then offered the hand of friendship rather than bear a long standing grudge like the vote junkie Darren. Oh and the way he pronounced Sadas name is still funny ;D

[PW]

A fair assessment...

The one worry is that this year's BB will turn into car-crash telly (much like the revolting Kinga wine-bottle incident) and destroy the series for good...

There's very little BB can now do...

[Claret & Blue Army]

BB2

Penny
God knows how this annoying gobby harridan ever became a teacher. Tried to play every card in the book to get noticed in the first week and was unanimously nominated by her housemates and booted out by the public

Stuart
The King winker and loved to cause friction and argue with whom he perceived to be weak. His breaking down of Amma and jealousy of Josh sealed his fate. Didn't really seem to fit in at all

Narinder
The pocket rocket who called a spade a spade and was probaly the first open bitcher with her partner in crime Brian. That duo was a highlight of the opening month and her eviction probably stopped the public hating Brian by default

Bubble
Loud and brash but never obnoxious despite initial thoughts. Quite a sensitive lad at heart and still to date the most surprising eviction

Amma
Cute but stubborn. The permanent cigarette in her mouth was hardly the most attractive sight. Found it difficult to mix properly with anybody...except Paddy the dog and as such kind of sparked her own downfall

Josh
Started the precedent of newcomers going on their first vote (Until last year), Coming in at the start of week 3 he arrived with a splash but as soon as the friction was there with the nations darling Brian he was always onto a loser despite the obvious bullying from the younger Irishman

Paul
Irritating beyond belief and a complete unconvincing braggart to those less intelligent than him...which in BB2 sandwiched him between Helen and Paddy th dog at the bottom. Rode the coat tails of Helen and lasted way longer than he should have done

Elizabeth
I quite liked her despite her accent meaninging that the more privilleged a housemate the more the public wouldn't take to her. Took the role of house mum to the others which was why her shock bitching to Dean about Helen was great stuff. much under rated

Dean
Possibly among the top 5 coolest house mates of all time. Was able to play dad with most of the housemates but also chew the intellectual fat with Elizabeth when able to. Always spoke straight even if it meant admonishing the younger housemates with their "wafer thin" subject matter

Helen
Has to be the fluffiest house mate ever and with her inability to grasp the fundamental points about ...pretty much anything lead the way for the Jades, Chantelles et al in the future. Annoying early on with all the constant talk of "Big G" the nation watches as a soap esque storyline unfolded with the equally away with the fairies lad from Reading.

Brian
Had this series pretty much in the bag from an early point and was very surprised that conservative Britain would vote in their millions for a gay winner. His own coming out story (Which bore hallmarks of a similar acceptance story 3 years later) and his bravery so not be judged for what he was is the intangible quality the genuinely funny Brian needed to deservedly take the £70k

[Jo]

Blimey Steve, great write ups of all the contestants - where you getting this from off the website or in your head?
How on earth can you remember everyone of them?
Loved what you said about Brian - my all time fav.
There has never been no-one quite like him on BB in terms of making me laugh ;D

[JP]

Yeah, Brian was a class act.....very funny.

Steve loves his t.v

[Jo]

Does anyone know what Brian Dowling is doing now, i know he appears on Radio One on a Sat. with Vernon Kay but thats all i know

[Steph Cowley]

jo said:

Does anyone know what Brian Dowling is doing now, i know he appears on Radio One on a Sat. with Vernon Kay but thats all i know

I think I saw him on The Mint on ITV when I was flicking through channels the other night. Don't know if he is a regular presenter though as I don't watch it.

[Jo]

Thanks Steph, you are right - just got this from his website :

Brian is to host The Mint, a high-energy late-night compendium of live participation studio games, call games, puzzles, stunts and events. The Mint will be filmed on a set resembling a stylish and opulent house with a cash vault (The Mint) at its core. Viewers will be able to call or text to participate in individual games for smaller prizes or the chance to win The Mint jackpot.

Glad he is doing something with his fame and fortune!! I just adore him, reminds me of my own son.

[Claret & Blue Army]

Have to say all my own work and my own opinion just for the record

BB3 Review

Sunita
The "trained barrister" (She kept that quiet) who wouldn't join in with the games. Had one patronising argument with Jade then had enough and had left after a handful of days. Made a lot of people angry that she had wasted the opportunity that somebody else could have had

Lynne
Remeber her. The near 40 year old Aberdonian with the hairstyle at times of an 8 year old. The whole ensemble made her row with the languid Spencer all the more bizarre. In the publiv vote to nominate 2 housemates for eviction she was unluckily second and way way way behind Jade whose tears promptly secured her safety with the reamining housemates.

Alison
It could have been me!! Seriously though the former holiday rep and larger than life Brummie was a delight in the opening 3 weeks and knew exactly how to liven things up. Formed quick but strong bonds with the eventual top 2. Politics sealed her fate in the vote where she was "Gutted". Her jumping on and breaking of the garden table still brings a smile as does her subsequent diary room confession "Big Brother I think I may have broken the table"

Sandy
Enigmatic indeed, but why was this rebel (A Kitten prototype perhaps) even considered for the house. Friends with pretty much only Alex made the pair of them the oddest of odd couples. His bizarre routine of doing however many laps of the pool each morning whilst the rest slept off their hangovers was strange to say the least. If nothing else he did have the most remarkable exit from the house to date

Lee
Dull adonis who only seemed to have eyes for himself...and Adele...and Sophie. A personality might have yielded him a slightly longer stay but the Leicester lad was lost in the mix of much more colourful characters

Spencer
Was supposed to be the hottest of favourites in the opening couple of weeks and on the heels of the previous year his relationship with Kate was bound to see his star orbiting....until Kate pointed out he smelt!! Lost in the so called clash of the titans to Alex (Who finished 3rd) Too laid back in the end to make him ever likely to win. Even his arguments were lethargic

Adele
The first housemate to be booed on exit...and boy didn't that shake up things from there on in. The bisexual DJ got the label of the slyest housemate and started the turning of the tide of public opinion about Jade in just a handful of days. Although on the whole big friends with the Bermondsey Bulge the pair of them had that fabulous argument about a veruca.

Sophie
Unfairly picked on by Jade and Kate due to her looks. Even managed to pull Jonny away from the Kate gang until the pair were nominated for eviction. Quickly became unpopular with tim who vented his spleen with full malice at her and she never properly made a recovery and spent much of her time sunbathing on her own or blubbing.

PJ
The affable brummie played the Jack The Lad card well and seemed a good foil for his northern equivalent Jonny. Famous for the drunken fumble with Jade and earnt his spurs with many a guy for completely blanking his besotted conquest the following morning. Unlucky to be evicted following the almost self nomination when he and Kate (Who by then had a huge following) chose to watch videos from their home lives

Tim
Arrogant, loaded, preening, loud mouthed, over opinionated? Yes but there was something classically villainous in a good way about Mr Culley. Often forgotten in hindsight but probably the greatest rulebreaker of all. On his first day in he gave away in not very good code the entire results of the world cup that far to an interested Spencer and PJ. His arguments and challenging Big Brother in the diary room were also the stuff of legends. Comprende?

Jade
Where do you start with Ms Goody? On day 1 I was texting anybody I knew imploring them to get rid of that gobby cow. Car crash tv personified. Whereas the previous year Helens stupidity was endearing Jade's c**k ups gave us all a smug look of superiority. Her lack of intelligence did never prevent her from shutting up and letting a debate continue at a higher level. So stupid she made a fool of herself with her "kebabs" in an obviously rigged quiz designed to make the idiot the brunt of all the jokes

Alex
Along with James Dreyfuss's character in the Thin Blue Line easily the campest straight man ever. Gained a cult following outside and inside the house pretty quickly. Only really formed 3 strong friendships though with Sandy, Adele and Tim although famously got on well with Kate when playing Follow The Van. As fond of pointing out he was a model and his diva esque tantrums with Jonny & Alison over peegate were hilarious. Hugely surprised that he didn't win

Jonny
Didn't really put a foot wong. Funny when the situation called for it but always there with a shoulder to cry on for others as and when required. Played the Mr Nice Guy role in the house and even in minor fall outs with Alex and Tim, as well as a critique from Sandy he didn't rise to the bait and get aggressive. Famously it took a drunken Jade for Jonny to finally let of steam when complaining about her nomination.

Kate
The first female winner riding a laddette wave in world cup year with perfect timing. Seemed a little in the background early on and often appeared as Alison's number 2. Grew claws very early on when Sophie arrived to threaten her position as the house totty and finally launched out on her own when Spencer was evicted. Classic way she kept dropping the cans deliberately when told by BB to return them showed her devillish side and by the end won with something to spare

[Jo]

Blimey - you do know your stuff! Im loving this thread - keep it up Steve

[Claret & Blue Army]

jo said:

Blimey - you do know your stuff! Im loving this thread - keep it up Steve

Cheers.
Gonna do a review a day then once I've reached BB6 top 5 highlights from each year or something.

Not gonna bother with the Celeb ones as the first 2 were too mundane in all honesty. The last two however have been closest to a normal show though.

Biggest gripe of recent times is the stupid eviction audience who boo just for the sake of it and spoil the whole process...along with Davina McCrawls awful interview style of either bullying or sucking up.

New bit to be added

BB Question number 1

in the first series what was the very first weekly test?
Was it

A) A get to know the housemates fact test

B) An assault course

C) A pottery making test

[Jo]

I have no idea and ive watched them all, just cant remember that far back! At a guess - was it C? no B - no A hehhe - ;D

[Ebony]

ill probably be addicted to big brother like i was last year.
what is it with watching a group of people living together in a small environment with loads of cameras watching...

[covunistudent]

It was either A or C. The assult course did not come for a few weeks as Nick started to get found out then.

So I will go for an obvious answer and say as it was the first week, it was a getting to know you task.

Assuming I'm right, heres another question.

What was the reason that during the housemates practicing the assult course, we had our first ever "non housemate" in the house?

And you don't get multichoice this time as I can't think of 3 good alternatives.