[camertone]

Austin would win by landslide if he was British. He is true winner in most people's eyes. and if James was American, he would not have any chance to make it to final. Backstabbers are always frowned upon in public, however because he was British, it was all forgiven. Some people took UK vs USA thing too seriously and displayed genuine hatred towards America which was very alarming. Americans are our closest allies, not the enemies. Live and learn, people.

[Tarryn]

He did not win because he was a nasty person & said some pretty vile things in there.
James won because he was a good HM & was never nasty & called Austin out on his horrible behaviour.
To suggest he won because people did not want an American to win is wrong.
I'm half American & half British & was ashamed of some of the American HM's behaviour in there.
Austin came across as a very angry person who never saw any other HM's point of view & did not accept that others may have a different take on things to him.
Happy he did not win.

[reece(:]

Gary Busey won last year and he was American so this argument is pretty void, although UK vs USA may play into it a tad.. I don't think that's why Austin didn't win.

[Liam-]

He could have won (unfortunately) if he wasn't such a **** to people.

[jaxie]

But he isn't and he didn't so maybe .. move on?

[Mystic Mock]

The fact that James was only 12% ahead of Austin despite also having what felt like nearly every female viewer head over heels in love with him, a home territory, and much kinder edits then yes I agree with the OP that James was not the peoples real champion as he had to have a lot of advantages to push himself into the lead.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by reece(:

Gary Busey won last year and he was American so this argument is pretty void, although UK vs USA may play into it a tad.. I don't think that's why Austin didn't win.

yes but busey is a legend and hes also the ONLY yank to ever win a reality show in the UK , that fact alone underlines the massive anti American racism in this country. its fine to hate US foreign policy but to take it out on American citizens is mental

[Mystic Mock]

And the CBB that Busey won was probably the least competitive CBB of all-time.

Don't get me wrong I liked Gary, but with some of the people that was cast in that season I don't think that Helen Wood wouldn't have needed a pass to the final to cruise through that series, so no wonder that it boosted Gary's support dramatically.

[y.winter]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

The fact that James was only 12% ahead of Austin despite also having what felt like nearly every female viewer head over heels in love with him, a home territory, and much kinder edits then yes I agree with the OP that James was not the peoples real champion as he had to have a lot of advantages to push himself into the lead.

For me a vote for James is a vote for Austin and vise versa, it's all of the same vote's motives.

[Josy]

He probably would have won had he not turned into an angry, horrible person for a fortnight that said some horrendous things to other housemates.

Nothing to do with nationality.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by y.winter

For me a vote for James is a vote for Austin and vise versa, it's all of the same vote's motives.

You would have a point if Austin was also dull, and was only being mentioned when a crazy Housemate was giving him highlight footage, but he had dynamics that was massive talking points of the series and he helped work for it to be the case.

And I know that I sound like a stuck record with James, but Austin wasn't just getting “oh isn't he hot” comments, and when he would do something morally wrong and then acting self-righteous about it (which he never did as I recall) I never saw posts like “he was right on what he did there.”

I get your opinion, it's just that I personally don't see it as there are differences between them as to why you could like one and dislike the other.

[Cherie]

I think the theme created a lot of patriotic voting, the crowd were booing Chloe and Stevie in the final fgs, Sherrie was considered boring yet made it to the final over housemates like Scoop and Janice, a UK winner was inevitable

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Tarryn

He did not win because he was a nasty person & said some pretty vile things in there.
James won because he was a good HM & was never nasty & called Austin out on his horrible behaviour.
To suggest he won because people did not want an American to win is wrong.
I'm half American & half British & was ashamed of some of the American HM's behaviour in there.
Austin came across as a very angry person who never saw any other HM's point of view & did not accept that others may have a different take on things to him.
Happy he did not win.

Superbly put.

[kirklancaster]

I am certainly not anti-American - though I don't think that it's a 'pefect' country either; there isn't one - but I AM anti-loud mouthed bullying twot, whatever their nationality.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Josy

He probably would have won had he not turned into an angry, horrible person for a fortnight that said some horrendous things to other housemates.

Nothing to do with nationality.

Absolutely.

[joeysteele]

I think really it was between James and Austin near all through.
people thought Scoop but he clearly was not in the running at all.

Also I do agree in part with the OP, the theme this series was the USA vs UK, and all the American housemates were evicted except for Austin.

I think is very fair to say that without James, Austin would not have probably done so well and certainly vice versa, wit out Austin, James would likely have not been in the running to win.

These 2, putting aside all the arguments and chaos that went on in the house with and around them, became the focal point of the series and in effect were each others power supply as to gaining the votes and support to be in the running to win.
For me the best final 2 for ages and maybe even ever on a BB series.

I can take on board what the OP said, this was presented as USA vs UK so it was likely going to be harder for an American to win this really.
That wasn't in any way the theme when Gary won.

[Dominic]

No

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by Josy

He probably would have won had he not turned into an angry, horrible person for a fortnight that said some horrendous things to other housemates.

Nothing to do with nationality.

Yep, I think the tirades at Janice lost it for him.

[Lostie!]

He'd be a nasty dickhead whatever his nationality. I think people are clutching at straws if they think the only reason Austin didn't win is because he's American.

[Suze]

I never watched a single bit of this CBB until final night, scanned the channels quite a few times and resigned myself to the fact that I might as well watch the CBB final. So accept any critisism of my post for that reason. Even so, and going by highlights and interviews and such, to me I would have far preferred an Austin win, but James wasn't a bad winner that said. They seemed to have a genuine closeness in there so it seemed befitting they were the last two standing.

I could see that Austin's tirades verged on nasty and spiteful, but then I expect many of them in there didn't come out smelling of roses either. Although James seemed quite a lovely, and genuine guy I do think he played on Austin's popularity at times to up his own profile in there. I think Austin wears his heart very much on his sleeve, has a volitile nature, realises it and later regrets a lot of his actions going by the clips shown. Out of the two I was hoping but knew he wouldn't, that Austin would win.

BTW, nothing to do with anything, but James is hot, Austin is hotter

[dyfed]

Originally Posted by Josy

He probably would have won had he not turned into an angry, horrible person for a fortnight that said some horrendous things to other housemates.

Nothing to do with nationality.

Have to agree,but Austin and James were very entertaining and fun to watch.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Suze

I never watched a single bit of this CBB until final night, scanned the channels quite a few times and resigned myself to the fact that I might as well watch the CBB final. So accept any critisism of my post for that reason. Even so, and going by highlights and interviews and such, to me I would have far preferred an Austin win, but James wasn't a bad winner that said. They seemed to have a genuine closeness in there so it seemed befitting they were the last two standing.

I could see that Austin's tirades verged on nasty and spiteful, but then I expect many of them in there didn't come out smelling of roses either. Although James seemed quite a lovely, and genuine guy I do think he played on Austin's popularity at times to up his own profile in there. I think Austin wears his heart very much on his sleeve, has a volitile nature, realises it and later regrets a lot of his actions going by the clips shown. Out of the two I was hoping but knew he wouldn't, that Austin would win.

BTW, nothing to do with anything, but James is hot, Austin is hotter

Suze

[Visage]

Originally Posted by camertone

Austin would win by landslide if he was British. He is true winner in most people's eyes.

Why do you think you can speak for the viewers that picked up their phone and voted on a housemate?

Originally Posted by camertone

and if James was American, he would not have any chance to make it to final.

If James had called Janice all the stuff Austin called her I think you might be close with your prediction.

Originally Posted by camertone

Backstabbers are always frowned upon in public, however because he was British, it was all forgiven.

Maybe James would have won by 55% if he hadn't nominated Austin. Maybe some people switched and voted for Austin therefore James wins with just 45% and not the 55% that I've just made up.

Who really knows why someone might or might not vote for a particular housemate.

Originally Posted by camertone

Some people took UK vs USA thing too seriously and displayed genuine hatred towards America which was very alarming. Americans are our closest allies, not the enemies. Live and learn, people.

Your post comes across to me like you took the theme too seriously, not the voting public.