Cheers Garfie. I value your approval and appreciation much more than you know, you are such an excellent addition to the forum.

You are right Jaxie, much as I dislike Lewis his comment to Sam that that they were just having fun at the festival was spot on, some of them do seem to be a bit bitter

It was me who mentioned the word 'depressed', Cherie, but I might not have expressed myself particularly well. I wasn't actually trying to make a diagnosis or suggest he is suffering from depression outside the house. In fact, when he is a guest on BOTS he always seems pretty upbeat.

What I actually meant was the situation seems to be depressing him within the house, as he is withdrawing, communicating very little, seems to have no interest, enthusiasm or energy. He rarely smiles or laughs, and he looks so genuinely miserable so much of the time. He is also often hiding behind sunglasses and a hood. Although I realise that editing can influence the impression we get.

You are so right when you say it is a game of mental strength and I'm sure everyone who enters that house believes they have the mental strength to deal with it- they wouldn't do so otherwise. However, I think some of them don't anticipate just how difficult and draining it is truly going to be- especially when the situation is as intense and relentless as it has been this year.

I think Ricky is containing so much, rather than expressing it, and that sooner or later he will be unable to contain it any longer, and it will eventually burst out as an explosion of anger or tears.

I could be totally wrong, but this is just the impression I get.

I personally suspect he used to be but he ****ed up his Eastenders career by making a few mistakes. That's more likely why he's such a different / much more down seeming personality now... Certainly not caused by his experience in the BB house - but potentially not in the right headspace to be going in there in the first place. We've seen this plenty of times in the past with CBB. Celebs who are in a somewhat fragile (or flat) emotional condition going into it and ending up distressed.

Bear and Co I'm sure have made it far worse and perhaps been a catalyst in him being more and more down, but if you look at his career this has been going on for a couple of years. Ridiculous to claim that it's been "caused by" the house.

Thank you, Kirk, and I appreciate your very kind comment. :thumbs:

I love reading your posts, as they are always so thoughtful and insightful and they also show many of your qualities as a person, which I truly respect. I just know you gave a good heart and good morals. I also love your humour too.:)

Yes, you make some really good points here, actually. Given what has happened in his career, you are right, and he might well have been in the wrong head space when he went into the house, and the situation there has then made it worse.

There's a chance he thought it would be a turning point and a way to get back on track... Then when it wasn't what he expected it's easy to see why he might just have given up.

Yes, that would be a logical conclusion. It's quite sad really.

He's probably the one housemate that I feel genuinely bad for (James doesn't really care, none of this is touching him) and Renee, Aubrey, Heavy D? The suggestion that they are any better than Bear and Co I just can't with :joker: they are horrendous human beings.

So I do feel bad for Ricky... However... It's not exactly entertaining to watch either.

No, you're right- much as I think he is a genuinely decent person and I feel bad for him too, he isn't bringing any entertainment at the moment.

If he has that much of an effect on you he can't be that bad.

I don't know why this comparison keeps cropping up when it's not really very accurate at all. I do hope it's not the start of a trend of any housemate who isn't a loud attention seeker being negatively compared to Alex. Ricky's spoken his mind plenty of times at this point.

:clap1::clap1::clap1: Well written Lostie.

quick question if someone walks do they get paid or no?

He called Bear ugly, took Heavy D aside to speak about Chloe and ran after Katie when Bear popped her balloon...crown him the winner :laugh:

I don't see him as being depressed, I think he is angry he can't angle any airtime and it's frustrating him

Yes, let's! :clap1:

:clap1:

Yeah I have to agree,but I am holding on hoping it will get better like a good big brother fan....but dear god its trying my patience :fist:
I do have a lot of respect for Ricky ,he does seem like a decent bloke and has spoken up when necessary, he doesn't play to the camera,that is a plus for me...

He comes across as pretty annoyed/careless most of the time.

He's probably sick of it!