It's not about like or dislike, it's about being entertaining to keep the viewer engrossed in it all, and Gary is entertaining or he would not be one of or the favourite. Who cares if he is disliked by any others in such shows because their huge egos get bruised because they are not the stars or entertaining enough. They get paid shed loads for appearing on the shows and know what it could entail, so they need to put up or shut up, they know where the door is. My enjoyment of the show is not how they get on with each other, because I don't care if they do or not most of the time, only how they conduct themselves in doing so, medusa tongued Dee being a bad example of this, in fact it is more watchable when they don't get on :joker:

I thought Dee was going to hit Gary last night in the garden when she put her hand in front of his face.
I hope Gary keeps winding her up.

Great post Ammi! As you know, I've always seen Gary as a master manipulator and not the 'poor victim' - and got blasted for it in the past. He winds them all up something shocking, the old fox! That scene in the kitchen was probably meant to provoke, and it did - but what a great CBB moment - it's priceless. :laugh:
The look on James's face :joker: because at first he didn't know what the hell Gary was pulling down his trousers FOR :joker: I thought it was telling that Dee yelled out JAMES DO SOMETHING spontaneously, and she didn't yell to Audley, who was walking right by Gary, or George either to 'do something'. It comfirms that James is seen as the one who looks after Gary, the one who takes charge of tricky situations etc. but what did Dee expect him to do? Whip off his shirt and cover Gary's dangler with it? Poor Victorian Dee :rolleyes:was practically hysterical which made it even funnier. Where are the smelling salts when you need them? Having said that, it was wrong of Gary to do that, and thank god Stephanie wasn't there or she wouldn't have eaten another bite in that kitchen. :hehe:

I kind of sympathize with the HM's a little bit and don't think they are awful people. Who knows how we might react if we were in there trying to win/have a good time/get through the stresses of living in close proximity to each other - and there is this old geezer having them tearing their hair out because he's winding them up and they know it but they still can't even pretend to like him for more than five minutes. Yikes! Audley is playing it right - just stay out of his way and let the others bother with him and show themselves up because ironically, it's the HM's who are making an effort with Gary who are coming out the worst.
I'm not sure I like Gary much, as I'd have liked to see a man who talks about the qualities of loving and understanding to actually make friends and engage with the HM's rather than just talk about those qualities but not really demonstrate them in a warm and honest way. Have we ever seen him do a practical act of kindness for anyone?
But it has all added up to him being a brilliant HM and where would the series have been without him? I shudder to think! A deserving winner? Absolutely!

Great post

I think there has been a few. Banana up the bum, A Scottish guy pissed in the bin in the kitchen.

I don't think Gary is acting though. He is just old, with a frayed brain.