[Mark]

http://www.sundaypost.com/news5.htm

Nice house, just a shame about the housemates

By Cameron Stout

IT’S A bit of a coincidence that I should be covering Big Brother for The Sunday Post again.
You see, I’m nervous and excited about my important role as the ultimate “Big Brother” today.

That’s because I’m playing a leading part at the wedding of my younger brother Julyan and his fiancee Simone Lucas!
There’ll be a bit of a break from tradition in that Julyan, his friend Bryan Adam and myself — who are the two best men — will be wearing purple velvet kilts.

I love them — they’re very modern and smart.
But it would certainly have raised eyebrows if I’d worn that for my entrance to the Big Brother House two years ago.
Actually, I was hoping for something of a return to tradition for this year’s 11-week marathon because I felt last year’s was a bit of a fiasco.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed it, and it certainly seemed to get the ratings. But EVIL Big Brother? Evil Schmievel!
The whole show seemed a bit too engineered, too constructed and too contrived.
After speaking to some housemates from last year I’ve heard how certain situations were set up.

I won’t go into more detail at this stage but hope to elaborate further in the coming weeks — so watch this space!
Talking about watching spaces, my first impression of the new-look house is that it’s pretty cool.
The new furniture is a huge improvement over last year when the seating area looked like a French bus terminal.
The fridge is enormous — lucky them! The Diary Room chair also looks as if it could hold a whole family.

I like the idea of the “naughty step” where housemates are banished to cool down. I’ve been told that is adapted from programmes like Super Nanny where she creates a ‘sin-bin’ where unruly kids are sent.
Rebellious

I don’t know how it will work in Big Brother — you’ll always get the rebellious element who think they can beat the system. They can’t, of course.
Many of this year’s intake have come out with all guns blazing judging by their audition tapes.
And there are signs that the producers have gone for the same combustible mix as last year, which is a bit sad. The first girl in, Lesley, said she wouldn’t like to be shut in with an “intellectual”.

That came just after we’d seen Derek, a political analyst who has written speeches for Alan Clark and Maggie Thatcher, enter the house.
Could he be described as an intellectual?
Both Vanessa and Lesley described themselves as two-faced — something Makosi cited as a pet hate.
Some of the people might come across as a bit flaky — hello, Mary! — but the programme’s psychologists do screen everyone thoroughly.
Vanessa and Anthony are probably used to being the centre of attention in their own circle, but might wilt a bit when thrown in with louder people than themselves.
The theme for the year is Unlucky Big Brother — an interesting twist but I hope it won’t get too tired too soon.
It’s certainly been unlucky for Scots already — there isn’t one. That is despite reports that I am going back in, which are totally untrue!

I shouldn’t think this will stop Scots watching. People talk about patriotism but, really, they vote for the contestants they like.
And, let’s face it, the alternative is Celebrity Love Island.
Well, tarra for noo!