[Shaun]

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When Mark registered the domain 'ThisIsBigBrother.com' all the way back in 2001 (I think), little did he know that he'd have to wait 16 years for one of his beloved members to break onto the show itself. Many have auditioned and failed until this year, when a little Swiss/American/Japanese/British/TiBBish member broke the duckstreak.

He's now made it to the final 6, but he needs one more hurdle to overcome. In such a strong lineup of alternatives, why should you vote Raph and not, say, Isabelle or Deborah? Well, I'm not going to trash those two lovely ladies since they'd be great winners too, but hopefully this will win you over (and you actually have the time to read this before the vote lines close).

Back at the start, he was exiled by the nasty Tom because... well Raph's VT was bloody awful. But look back on that VT:

Youtube video

How can someone with such a terrible VT make the final? Well. We'll let the historians point out other awful VT finalists. But he must have done something right in his 8 week tenure. What do we think?

ONE. Personally saved Deborah, Hannah and Chanelle from being ejected during Fight Night 3.

Many observed Deborah's Usain Bolt antics that night, but think where we'd be now if Raph hadn't done the security team's job and saved Deborah and Hannah from chinning Ellie? Ellie would be now 98% ready to win, and still going aww chuffin' ell Sam your willy's dead nice. It doesn't bear thinking about!

TWO. Seen and fought off housemates no matter their power status.

He may have a reputation as a happy-go-lucky laidback 'dude' (self-imposed word, I do apologise) but let's break down his many fights across the series:

- His series-long feud with Joe that saw Joe constantly belittle his housemate status, give him a killer nomination, call him all sorts of names... and Joe was ultimately destroyed. But not before a nice handshake from Raph Don't call Raph a prick, guys!
- Speaking of handshakes, he's had his clashes with Kieran. Remember how he took Kieran to task for stashing alcohol away from the rest of the house just so his clique could enjoy it? RAPH HAD NONE OF THAT. And he didn't accept Kieran's snivelling apology or handshake either.
- Withstood Andrew's incoherent ranting about a duck. If I'm honest I didn't understand a word of this exchange but well done Raph for not giving him the satisfaction!
- Had a pop at Tom over his childish behaviour in week 2.
- Set up the downfall of Lotan by rallying his troops together and telling them about his derogatory attitudes towards women - specifically Isabelle and Hannah.

THREE. Ruined Ellie.

Up until Raph's nomination of her during the Void, only one other housemate had nominated Ellie and that was Imran who (wrongly) went in week 2. It really looked like the dead normal girl was cruising to the most obvious win since Josie Gibson. But give a man a nomination and he'll waste it on Hannah. Teach a man about the Void and he'll expose Ellie's tedious gameplay. As the first nominations played back into the house for everyone to see, Raph gave everyone else the idea that Ellie's gameplay, inability to stand on her own two feet, and desperation to cling to any man, were all in plain sight. Skip forward two weeks and Chanelle, Deborah and Hannah all saw the light and nominated her too! Wow Raph Nice work

FOUR. Endured Andrew.

Don't worry, I'll spare you a picture of Andrew. I'm nice like that.

Andrew went into this house with one thing on his mind: Raph's dick. Those opening few days of Andrew's stay, with him trying to steal Raph from Chanelle, asking for hugs and kisses, and being told he's in love with him, were pretty tasking. Sort of how I imagine everyone on Grindr treats Lucas. If nothing else works: vote for Raph out of pity! That Scottish nightmare is worse than Dunblane!

FIVE. For the fans.

All season long, TiBB and other sites have been clocking Endemol/Channel 5's shoddy production decisions and who else has been predicting them a mile off from within the house confines? Superfan Raph of course. You need only go far back as tonight's episode for evidence of him clocking their horrible 'two more evictions' twist.

But this point is about more than that: who better a representative for a Big Brother winner and the future of this show if it has one than a superfan? He's been chastised for this trait all series by Rebecca, Kieran and Joe, but Hurricane Sue defended him for it (and Rylan on BOTS). Why shouldn't a Big Brother fan win Big Brother?

SIX. The legendary Chanelle friendship.

Jason and Victor. Richard and Lea. Lisa and Sara. Luke, Adam and Deana. Big Brother has its history of great friendships that last to this day, but who saw this one coming? Whether it was exploring her clitoris (which TOTALLY happened), being bed buddies on launch night, impersonating their other housemates or giving mutual birthday lapdances, their friendship is one for all seasons and one of the purest thing about this series

SEVEN. For the Gays and for the Asians.

No gay man has won Big Brother UK in over fifteen years. A shocking, harrowing statistic. What's worse: no Asian, male or female, has won either. Ignore CBB, Raph does!

Yes, Deborah would be just as wonderful a buck of trend, but if you're thinking of voting Isabelle just remember: she doesn't know what a gay is and she isn't a gay icon! Sorry but it's true! She hasn't even sung Run Away With Me this series!

EIGHT. For Sukhvinder!

Not a lot to say on this point other than The Rightful Queen of Big Brother 18 has fully endorsed Raph for the win!

NINE. The personal reason.

This series has been a testing one. And a lot of mudslinging from both sides has been present (although I will argue to the death that it's been fairly one-sided). TiBB hopefully will never be like this during another series again

When Raph registered to TiBB back in 2009 I didn't like him. I don't think I liked him until at least 2013. So it's been with some hesitation that I've watched people form preconceptions on him and bring up weird aspersions about his [Andrew voice] CHARACTAH [/Andrew voice] because I know full well that I thought he was weird, had terrible taste in housemates and some music (still true, sorry about that Raph), has a near-unfollowable backstory and was a little too into TiBB at some times. But hey, look who's talking?

I remember in the buildup to the first COL (if you don't know what this was, it was a TiBB meetup two years ago. Read here) I was a little bit unsure because I'd clashed with Raph a bit on the forum, called him all sorts of names, and thought I was about to meet a complete freak.

And I was! But it turned out to be Black Dagger.

I know I can't talk for everyone and force this opinion down everyone's throat but I'll just give it anyway because I know I was one of many who prejudged him the wrong way: he turned out to be one of the most laidback, non-judgemental, happy, positive people I've met. I've since met him 3 other times and whilst I'd never consider him a close friend on account of distance, online-ness, differences of hobby and all that, he's been great company whenever I have met him and - the odd prank, and forcing me to play FIFA nonstop for about an hour whilst high, aside - someone I consider a good person.

So that's about all I can write without passing out. If you want a TiBB winner, please phone:

From a landline: 09020445813
From a mobile: 6505813

And if you really don't want him to win, then by all means, vote for Isabelle or Deborah. I'm sure he wouldn't mind that either.