Big Bother!
"BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" - this is one of the opening lines to George Orwell's classic novel 1984, and who could have predicted they would lead to what is now undeniably a national frenzy.
Thousands queueup and will do practically anything to get on the addictive andsometimes twisted television show.
Millions watch it, but it seems evenmore can't stand it and moan for the entire three-month stretch!"What's the point?" There isn't one. It's an entertainment show.
Thisyear is no different, as a quirky house, crueller tasks and evencrazier housemates make it a sure-fire hit/loss, depending how you lookat it (personally, I'm with 'hit').
With the as-always gaudy house thisyear sporting a giant ashtray as the only place smokers are aloud tolight up in, and a prison area for 'naughty' housemates, we knew it wasgoing to be good.
And oh, it is. From 'The Wedding Task' to " 'Memba Itold you!" the first two weeks have already been action-packed withcause for more juicy gossip than an office Christmas party.
And therehas been no shortage of the ridiculously funny to the just plainridiculous either - cross-dressing, appalling karaoke and the spellingof the word 'dignity' to name a few of the better moments in the house.
In a word, 'hirarious'.
But I can't help hoping that somehow this yearsomething good will come out of Big Brother for once.
As Alex's shockremoval from the house showed, this year Big Brother means business,and aggressive behaviour is thankfully being much more fiercelycontrolled than before.
From 'The Wedding Task' to " 'Memba I told you!" the first two weeks have already been cause for more juicy gossip than an office Christmas party.Laura Vickers
This, teamed with the fact that for the firsttime I couldn't pin-point any of the girls in the house this year asout for a page three contract, I hope means this year Big Brother willshow that housemates don't have to attack each other or strip off tomake the show interesting.
After all, the reality is it's a unique ideafor a social experiment and that in itself is fascinating without theneed for viewers to call the police because they're watching peopletear strips out of each other on the live show.
The characters in thehouse are enthralling enough, with this year's housemates includingfully blind Mikey, albino Darnell, young mother Jennifer and kitschKathreya, a cookie-obsessed Thai masseuse.
I think the most interestinghousemate, however, is one of the most ordinary and yet extraordinary.Luke, 19, does not drink, smoke, take drugs or swear...and he's astudent!
Jokes aside, I think it's admirable that he is representing afriendlier, more respectable example of young people today.
Thank Godthere are still some 'nice young boys' out there - I'd much rather myyounger brother had Luke as a role-model than some foul-mouthed,aggressive, disrespectful chav like so many housemates that have gonebefore.
I think housemates like Luke will do something towardsdestroying the student stereotype, and that can only be good news in myeyes.
So this year I'll be the first person to cheer when I hear theimmortal words:
"Big Brother House, this is Davina. You are live onChannel 4, please do not swear."
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