Considering how hard the papers will have tried to find some poor Ex that had been subjected to the love rat's charms, I felt justified in assuming he must have been a pretty decent chap. It also indicated that he can't really have gone for the brainless, bimbo, legs up to your armpits types that Amma and Liz assumed. They'd have sold their stories in a flash. The thing that Melanie said was quite reasonable in in keeping with something you'd expect one of your friends to do.
Given my knowledge of what the papers will do, I'd probably become really paranoid and scared to speak to anyone. I suspect you may be right ROB about Big G being hounded by the papers. It seems he said some nasty things, but no doubt under great encouragement. They'll have got him worked up about things and told him he was being made to look a fool and that he should put Helen in her place etc. How would he know that the tabloids would then see this as a great opportunity to endorse tv shagging? He was still a crap boyfriend, so I'm not that sorry.
If it was a serious Ex, one that my family all knew it might get a bit stressful. My parents wouldn't watch BB, so I might be able to prevent them finding out for a bit. The thought of my mother watching him involved in one of their late night discussions about what 'things' they liked is not worth thinking about.
If I felt one of my friends was being misrepresented, either by editing, or by the nasty press I might find it difficult not to open my mouth. This might not actually help them, simply because
1. what you say will be taken out of context
2. even if taken fully within context I'd probably alienate a few more people on their behalf.
I'd maybe instead join a forum like this one and do some major campaigning.
