[Angus]

Originally Posted by James

When she was in Big Brother she talked (it was on live feed) about having been offered the chance a while ago to work in Australia. That was before Big Brother. I am sure that is what he meant in that interview, he wasn't talking about a tourist visa. They're much more strict about giving visas if you are planning to stay and work. You've just made out of nowhere that she has criminal convictions that means she can't get a tourist visa.

I think most people that watched Big Brother, and from what I've read, the people that have met her since, would say she has a good-natured personality. As far a calling her - or any Big Brother housemate - a 'vile human being' I think a sense of perspective is required? Big Brother was a show in which a group of people lived in a house for three months. I'd say it is pretty difficult to do anything in that environment which is bad enough to deserve that description. It has to be said that a by-product of the format of the show was some bizarre over-the-top judgements and hatreds of certain housemates. They are having their every-move analysed be viewers and the HMs are often being criticised for what is perfectly normal, everyday behaviour.

I actually said in my post that "unless you have certain criminal convictions" you will not be refused a tourist visa which I believe allows you to stay for 3 months on a visit/holiday, and I speculated why John James has not taken her back to Oz with him to introduce her to his friends and family.

I don't "hate" Josie, she's not worth my hatred. However, I thoroughly despise her and my use of the adjective "vile" by the usual definitions is, in my opinion, a perfect description for Josie (offensive to the senses or sensibilities; repulsive; disgusting; cheap; worthless;degrading; low; mean). The fact that you have an opposite opinion is of course, your prerogative.

The HMs put themselves up for public scrutiny and criticism and I would disagree that some of their behaviour was "normal and everyday" - at least not to me. I disliked Josie's manipulation of every situation, portraying herself as a victim, and guilt tripping others; I despised her spitefulness, her blatant lies, her falseness and faux humility, when she is clearly a very egotistical person. You and many others may have viewed her very differently, but I am not alone in my analysis of her character. The whole point of Big Brother is that it is essentially a popularity contest is it not? In other words the viewers are invited to "like or dislike" the HMs. However, the way the whole show was centred around the "romance" deprived other, in my opinion, more worthy HMs, of more airtime and therefore more opportunity for the viewers to get to know them.

The whole business of Josie being handed a place in the final (thereby avoiding the vote that week), and then the way the voting was changed in the final elimination was all designed to eliminate any serious competition, and put through the boring people like Dave, Andrew, JJ2 and Mario, none of whom had any chance against Endemol's chosen winner. Just look how she crumbled in the CBB house when she didn't have her lapdogs around. It made a mockery of BB11 when she so casually threw away such an opportunity - seems you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

As regards criminal convictions - I have no idea whether Josie has any, but I am entitled to speculate whether she does or not, and would not be at all surprised to learn that she has, bearing in mind she was quite happy to give her ex a battering.

I have no intention of further justifying my opinions of Josie since I, like you and every other viewer, formed those opinions through observing her behaviour. It all depends on the interpretation.