The Safari School Finalists are Jeremy Sheffield and Carrie Grant with Claire King evicted.

All three semi finalists were challenged to the uttermost as each had to take one of the remaining contestants, plus an instructor, on a Game Drive, utilising all their learned skills to date.

Claire did very well until she had to communicate with Carrie on the radio as she was showing her party the elephants and Carrie wanted to bring her party in. She was disjointed and had to repeat herself, making a bad impression on the ranger who was testing her all round skills. She was also criticised for not making her description of the animals more interesting in her verbal description. The instructor remarked on her poor spotting ability. They were thrilled to come across the rare and very dangerous white rhino. Read more & comment »

Big Brother’s Jade Goody – Can You Forgive Her?

This was an email sent to Heat Magazine, February issue, from Alvita.

‘I’ve never written to a magazine before, but after reading your interview with Jade, I feel shocked and disgusted. Jade has to have 24-hour security because of death threats, and cannot return to her own home for fear of her life. Who are we to make anyone feel like this? Jade was evicted from CBB to show that this country will not put up with bullying in any form, but after reading this interview it’s clear we have learnt nothing – what Jade and her family are going through now is 100 times worse. Shilpa won CBB by being dignified and tolerant (and forgiving). Let’s take a leaf out of her book and try to do the same.’

From Marco, London, same magazine,

‘Thank you, Heat, for listening to Jade and giving us the chance to make up our own minds. The sad part is that the people who are waging a campaign against Jade are guilty of the same bullying behaviour. A mature person would follow Shilpa’s example, mending relationships. That is the only way racism and bullying will be beaten. Jade needs to learn from this – though quite frankly, I don’t think she has any other option. So yes, Jade I forgive you and I hope to see you again and again, stronger, better and more balanced.

Shilpa Shetty’s words in Reveal, February issue,

‘I’m not Mother Teresa and I don’t want to sound as if I’m trying to salvage everyone’s lives. But haven’t they been punished enough? I m not condoning what they did, but I want people to see that, compared to the pain I went through in the house, they’ve gone through that, multiplied a hundred times.’

Star Magazine, February issue, HANG IN THERE JADE

‘Am I the only person who feels any sympathy for Jade in this so-called racism saga?
Yes, the girl was a total bully to Shilpa and showed her complete lack of intelligence. However, her comments were not racially motivated and I am disgusted at how she has to apologise for something that the media has branded her.
Watching Jade on CBBLB made my heart bleed. I hope that she can recovers from this.’ Beck, Surbiton.

CHANNEL 4 TO BLAME, a letter from Rachel, Bournemouth to Reveal.

When I chat to people about the CBB sage, most people agree that it just showed how bitchy women can be.
The whole thing was blown out of proportion. Channel 4 surely had some control over what was shown and how it was edited? They should have known that certain things would have caused public uproar – but it seems they were only interested in keeping ratings up. I feel very sorry for those involved.’

It is good to see Danielle Lloyd on so many of the magazine covers, brightening our day.

The competition is opened each week with world famous Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean giving us a sensational routine followed by manoeuvres expected that night from the competitors.

Tonight the required element was the ‘assisted jump’ with both feet raised from the ground

The performances have become very daring and exciting with each couple introducing more courageous manoeuvres each week and the gap between professional and celebrity becoming less noticeable.

Kyran Bracken and Melanie Lambert with the thousand ruby stoned dress, stole the show and took first place. They kept us on the edge of our seats and holding our breaths as they flawlessly went through their very dangerous routine earning 26 out of 30 points. Read more & comment »

An exciting celebrity game show with a difference, as eight celebrities, including Clare and James, undertake a four-week gruelling ranger-training course at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa. They have four weeks to develop game ranger skills that usually take years.

As we get taken through the game reserve, following the trainees’ progress on foot through the African bush, with lions, cheetah, elephants and many other wild animals on all sides, we see our celebrities carrying out the daily tests set for them which includes the analysing of every type of animal dung. Their instructors work with them from dawn to dusk as they compete to keep their place at Safari School. At the end of each week the two worst trainees will face a head to head challenge with one remaining and one flying back home. This will continue each week, for four weeks, until the two best trainees remain to compete in the Safari Grand Finale

The competing celebrities, Claire from Bad Girls, James (Olympic athlete), Jeremy Sheffield (Holby City), Paul Usher (Brookside), Blair McDonough (Neighbours), Carrie Grant (Fame Academy vocal coach), Brooke Kinsella (former Eastenders) and broadcaster Jan Leeming share a lodge in the heart of the African bush.

Brooke and Jeremy, being the bottom two rooky rangers this week, will battle it out to remain in the contest, at Shamwari Game Reserve.

Anna Nicole Smith has been found dead at age 39. She was found in her hotel room at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida.

Smith has had a string of misfortunes lately including the death of her son Daniel Smith; court ordered paternity tests for her new-born daughter; as well as the continued battle over the estate of deceased husband J. Howard Marshall.

Recently, she was also sued along with TrimSpa in a class action suit for claims of the weight-loss pill as being false or misleading.

She starred in her own reality TV show, “The Anna Nicole Show” from 2002-2004.

Anna’s nurse found her around 1:38pm local time, and rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood at 2:10pm.

The cause of death is under investigation says Edwina Johnson, the chief investigator of the medical examiner’s office of Broward County, and an autopsy will be done on Friday.

After an evening of outstanding skating by the nine remaining celebrities and their partners, the reportedly, feuding duo, Kay Burley and  Ulrika have been parted with Kay remaining and Ulrika leaving, after the two were in a skate-off,  being the bottom two couples according to judges points and public votes. Ulrika’s skating theme was ‘Pretty Woman.’

All the skating was of a very high level bringing tough and close competition.

 

Duncan James and his partner were fabulous in an amusing and artful performance taken from the movie Grease.  They received surprisingly low points as theirs was certainly one of  the three most impressive performances.
 

Lisa Scott-Lee and partner and Clare Buckfield and partner tied for first place with 25 out of 60 points, Lisa was stunning in a gorgeous white dress.  Kyran Bracken and partner came third with 22.5 points.  The skating was daring and exciting with one leg spins, high lifts and breathtaking dips.
 

Olympic skating legends Jayne Torvill and  Christopher Dean gave an ovation-deserving performance opening the show.  Who will be the next to go?

 Danielle has apparently been invited by Shilpa and her Mother to their home in Mumbai when she visits India.  Shilpa has remained a good friend to Danielle and at no time, to my knowledge, included her in the bullying and racist allegations. Does this not prove the close friendship that they formed in the BB house after her apology to Shilpa, exchanging gifts, etc.?
 

It has been said that Danielle collapsed at the CBB wrap party (The Sun), was not drunk but overwhelmed by the number of photographers waiting outside, and fell into her minders arms as she left the bash. It was further reported that Teddy Sheringham was waiting for her at another nightspot with friends, but of course she did not turn up and he tried to flirt with a brunette who turned him down, to the amusement of his friends.  All she has been through since leaving the BB house has caught up with her resulting in the collapse.
 

Danielle has been to the police, with her lawyers, of her own choice, but according to the Sun, February 2^nd, Jermaine Jackson, Jade Goody, Jo O’Meara,  Shilpa Shetty and Dirk Benedict are still to be interviewed in connection with the above allegations.
 

Dancing on Ice. DJ Neil Fox voted off after a skate-off with the feuding Kate Burley

The twenty year old feud continues between Ulrika Johnsson and Kay Burley on and off the ice. An insider has said that it is unpleasant for the rest of the contestants as the atmosphere behind the scenes is extremely frosty as the two, apparently, cannot stand each other. Ulrika, it is said, harbours a grudge against news anchor Kay for bossing her around when she was a secretary many years ago and is determined to be crowned Ice Queen of ‘Skating on Ice’. Apparently the two have refused to use the room for the competitors to relax in, in case they bump into each other. They will not even visit the masseuse who is based on the premises. Reportedly Ulrika has ordered her costumes to be ‘sexed up’ in an attempt to outshine Kay. She certainly wowed the audience last Saturday as the judges put her fourth. Ulrika has reportedly said that she wants to keep her 52,000 pound fee rather than give it to charity. Apparently Ulrika has been giving the producers headaches with her ‘diva-like’ strops during rehearsals and behaving as if she’s the only star in the show, bringing her own make-up and hair team with her, according to an insider. No matter what is said about the two women, they are both fantastic skaters and it is a mystery as to why Kay is receiving such low scores from the judges.

The skating has been of a very high standard from the beginning with an interesting group of participating celebrities. When watching the show it feels as if we have stepped into an ice palace and the décor is superb. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean commence the evening with an awesome skating number and show the manoeuvres expected from the competitors that evening. This is a show well worth tuning into it.

Celebrity Big Brother Aftermath…Dirk Benedict and Jermaine Jackson, Amongst Others, Have Their Say.
 

On BBC1 today, Jermaine Jackson stressed that there had been no racism in the Big Brother house and that he saw the fight as a ‘girl’s thing’.  He had gone on to say that there was not a racist bone in any of their bodies. Dirk Benedict on GMTV said that it was a territorial fight between Jade and Shilpa as Shilpa had wanted to control the kitchen and cooking and had even thrown HIM out of the kitchen.  Many reporters have been writing that this is a fuss about nothing and that it was time to move on.  A TV Presenter asked ‘Are we overacting?’ Others have felt that Big Brother should be held accountable for apparent allegations of footage being withheld which may have shown a very different picture from the one the public was exposed to.  One newspaper said the bosses of Channel 4 and C4 would like to have changes before another Big Brother takes place to avoid it spiralling out of control again. (Irish Sun, Jan. 30^th). 

If we had a show where frogs had there legs pulled off, for fun and entertainment, there would be an uproar but we have been watching people’s lives being destroyed, put into ridiculous situations, 14 celebrities passing through the BB house with one shower to share, footage supposedly being withheld or shown, distorting the truth of a situation for publicity and destroying reputations, careers and people in the process, deliberately bringing in controversial characters for extra drama, (no matter how damaging), for media coverage and to draw more viewers…are we any better than the ‘frog’ people if we support this sort of thing?  BB could be more entertaining if it gave adequate, comfortable accommodation with a spare room for the snorer or problem person, relied more on entertaining tasks than on fights in the house and did not starve the inmates for further ‘entertainment.’  The tasks were fantastic and it was really great watching the various celebrities getting to know one another and telling their stories.  The fighting and vulgarity ruined the show and could have been stopped by Big Brother as soon as it was obvious that putting Jade Goody and family with some of the housemates, was not going to work. (Jade has collapsed and is in the Prior where stars go for rehab and is being treated for depression and stress with Jack Tweedy by her side). Shilpa Shetty and Jade Goody, being two strong charactered women, could never live happily under one roof.  The storm might have brought in eight million viewers and monitory gain but at what  price to three young  EX-celebrities??????
 

 

Celebrity Big Brother’s Jo O’Meara, shaking and sobbing at 6.45 this morning was interviewed on GMTV. A very distraught Jo was asked about her stay in Big Brother, her relationship with Shilpa Shetty and the accusations of bullying and racism by the public and press. Although distraught, she stood adamantly by her statements of not guilty and said that Big Brother had edited the show in such a way as to paint the picture of her (and others) in the way portrayed and that the good parts had been left out e.g. the nice times with Shilpa who she said she had not bonded with as well as she did with others (the housemates had complained of Shilpa being very controlling and annoying) but that they had got on better, even well, later in the show. She said being portrayed as the continuously smoking, bathrobed person was also false as she had showered and dressed every day but with one shower shared by so many, this meant that some had to shower later than the others and like Jo, remained in their robes until the shower was available. She also pointed out that it had been like living in a fish bowl and all your faults high lighted and shown on TV (not to forget the editing to promote ‘more interesting’ viewing…. at the cost of three young women’s lives). If Shilpa and the housemates (even after seeing the edited worst parts in the house, said to have been taken out of context and sequence) could insist there was no bullying or racism (surely THEY should know, living in such close proximity) why do the media and public persist in their accusations? Are they happy (is Big Brother happy) when they see the results of their far worse bullying and exploitation? Many people have urged that Big Brother be closed down and not allowed to continue as no monitory gain is worth the cruel destruction of lives.

Jo explained that she had gone into the BB house in an effort to save her home which she said was about to be repossessed (and now she has lost her whole life, a shaking and sobbing mess, rocking back and forth, on the verge of a break down).

Dr Hillary, who was also on GMTV, said that Jo felt betrayed and let down by Big Brother and needed the full support of friends and family.

Is this what the public want to see? The product of media bulling far worse than anything shown in the very confined spaced Big Brother house. Big Brother should have been fair to these girls and also shown repeated full footage of the behaviour of others in the house which had brought about their dislike of Shilpa, in the beginning. Jade Goody and Jack Tweedy had obviously objected to the way Shilpa had spoken and behaved towards Jade’s mother Jackiey. They had not had a chance to get the know the nicer Shilpa that later emerged. Even the crowd booed Shilpa from very early in the show and right up to her being chosen as the winner of Big Brother. How do we explain this? Why were they booing her when BB said she had won with 63% of the votes

Big Brother’s Russell Brand
 

How can anyone be so revoltingly disgusting and irreverent and yet so caring, wise and loyal?  Sorry if I am ruining your ‘bad boy’ image Russell but I think there is a side to you that could cancel out the foul mouthed, kindergarten sexual talking and disrespect of Christianity. Underneath it all, you are a really nice guy who has had your fair/unfair share of knocks.
 

It was an interesting final show last night, with Shilpa Shetty, no surprises here, winning for political reasons or for her virtues…we will never know which.  She had tough competition with Danielle Lloyd, amongst others, who might have won if it had not been for the over publicised Jade Goody ‘differences’.  This was pointed out by someone in Russell Brand’s audience last night.  As some one else in the audience said, when asked how he felt about Shilpa sitting on the throne, ‘Sorry Shilpa but I would have preferred to see Jade there’.
 

Yet another person in the audience said, if Shilpa could forgive whatever was said or done to her in the house then why can’t the rest of the world?  Shilpa called for all this to be put in the past and said Jade had not been racist in anyway, nor anyone else.  Danielle Lloyd made a public statement that she was not a racist, hand in hand with Shilpa at the press conference.  As many (including Shilpa) said, it was just a game and EVERYONE in the house had been guilty of saying unpleasant things about each other so I suppose they are ALL being called to forgive one another.  Shilpa might have won anyway as she is very beautiful and gracious but at what a price she now wears the crown.  Three lives destroyed by the public and media through behaviour and words that were no worse than in past Big Brother shows. (How many of us have lost our tempers and said things we should not have and got away with it and yet such harsh punishment on others has been meted, who are no worse than we are ourselves?)  There has been a call for tolerance but maybe, through all this, we ALL have learnt the importance of watching our words as they can build or destroy.
 

 

Big Brother’s Media Rush
 

This is like the French Revolution.  What will the public and press do when there are no more heads to roll?  Will it turn into a witch hunt? Looking for innocent people who just might not like another person and say so, only to have their words twisted into racisism?  Has anyone out there ever lost their temper ‘Jade’ style…are YOU next for the public execution?  Have you ever made a remark that could be mistaken for bullying or racism?  Beware, YOU might be next for the slaughter!!  As said before, this is all so much nonsense and should be stopped before any more harm is done or any more people have their lives ruined.  I know the taste of blood is in everyone’s mouth and the media are having a field day, but at what cost??

Jo O’Meara and Cleo Rocos have left the Big Brother House even though it was Dirk Benedict, not Cleo, who got the boos during the voting, outside of the house before eviction. Cleo was cheered by the crowds. Jo looked stunned at the world-wide fuss over the supposed bad treatment of Shilpa, and rightfully so, pointing out that you cannot go into a house the size of Big Brother’s with so many people in it and expect to get on with everyone and that she had found Shilpa irritating although, when Shilpa became more natural and just herself, in the last few days, she started to like her.

Maybe now Danielle Lloyd will have a chance to win. All in the house seem to love her (not some of her habits or language but hey, who is perfect???) Danielle has been very entertaining, sweet most of the time and just herself. She is very, very beautiful but cute with it. She has a sunny nature and gets on with everyone. It would be good to see Jermaine Jackson come second and Shilpa Shetty third. Any modelling company, who has dropped Danielle over this ridiculous outcry, must be out of its mind. I would say that they would be the losers as there will be many others more than willing to sign her up. Besides, if she continues to be bullied by the public and media she could go anywhere in the world and be a successful model and then we, the public, would be the losers. As for losing her boyfriend, old Ted ‘whatshisname,’ she can do a lot better than a boyfriend who does not even have the decency to break off with her face to face or better still, stand by her. (Here, just seen by me, she is lovingly and loyally wearing his top on TV, reminding us his name is ‘Sheringham’) but is he any better than the aunt who supposedly betrayed her for money?

It is tragic that this is where are, taking the lives of three young women so lightly that they can be destroyed by playing the Celebrity Big Brother game.

Voting has begun for the remaining six contestants, the finalists, Danielle, Jermaine, Shilpa, Jack Tweed, Ian and Dirk to win. The ‘final curtain’ is on Sunday at 8pm on Channel 4.

This article was written for Unreality TV by Evelyn Lewis.

BIG BROTHER JADE GOODY’S EVICTION

We were shocked and disgusted at the bullying and footage shown at Jade’s eviction. We thought Big Brother would stand by their inmates and give them a fair deal, after all, THEY put the very mixed bunch of celebrities into the house in the first place and surely, from past experience, would have known what the outcome would be.

The disgust is Davina’s bullying of Jade, not giving her a chance to finish what she was trying to say and pumping her with ridiculous questions and showing PARTS of footage leaving out all the provocation and insults that Jade had had to suffer at the hands of inmates such as Dirk, Jermaine and of course Shilpa who mocked her, picked on her, insulted her mother, called her common and beneath their class and stupid, (should I go on?) but this footage was not shown. Who instigated the big fight shown in the footage, over the chicken cubes? It was Shilpa when the girls were sitting around talking and laughing and innocently enjoying themselves, then Shilpa stormed in and demanded to know where HER chicken cubes were. Jade answered her quietly and cheerfully a number of times and eventually exploded when Shilpa lied and said it was the only thing she had ordered for herself. Jade heatedly pointed out that she had ordered a lot more than chicken cubes and that the inmates shared everything in the house, like a family, from shower to food.

Shilpa insulted her, told her to shut up a number of times before being pulled away, swearing, by Jermaine, who incidentally started the whole racist nonsense by telling Shilpa that he thought it was a racist thing, right from the start. He and Shilpa had wanted to walk as soon as the Goody family arrived, the two of them whispering in the shower room about their loud voices and not being able to live with it.

Well they have successfully rid themselves, very nastily, of both Jackiey, Jade’s Mother, and Jade and no longer have to have their sensitive ears abused. Shilpa has never stood alone as she has had the backing of Jermaine, Dirk, Ian and Chloe, outnumbering the three girls, so it has been ridiculous to say she was ‘poor Shilpa’ alone, far from home and a stranger in the house. It has also been said that Shilpa was ‘tricked’ by BB in the diary room into saying there was no racism in the house, clearing Jade. Do you honestly think that cool, calm and collected Shilpa could be tricked into anything? Let us also not forget that Shilpa was well equipped, to bring Jade, her biggest rival in the house down, by ex housemate, journalist Carole Malone who told her of Jade’s past and temper.

Many have pointed out that this has all been a media’s dream and that they are fanning the flames, burning Jade at the stake, to keep the public hysteria going.

On the news this morning when interviewing a reporter in India, it was suggested that this was all a set up to draw in more viewers.

Max Clifford, PR, phoned into Russell Brandt’s show last night (Russell has been the kindest person to Jade since all this began and his guest Carole Malone, journalist from the house) said he believed that Jade had been exploited rather than her being the exploiter as the producers knew what they were doing when they put them all in together. Her reputation and career are now in ruins
Carole said it was more a control thing, with Shilpa wanting to control and Jade not wanting to be controlled. No racism what so ever.

Russell said quote’ the Nation must be careful not to victimise Jade.’

Eviction night tonight
 Why persist in labelling the behaviour in the house as racist when Shilpa Shetty herself has said that there has not been any racist behaviour.  She and Jade have made up so why is the rest of the world continuing with this racism hysteria?  Is it to get Shilpa a sympathy win as I am sure that is the last way she would like to win.  She has said she wanted the publicity to further her career and perhaps in Britain, well she has certainly received that, beyond her wildest dreams…
I do not want to go into the rights and wrongs of anyone in the house as you have seen the show for yourself but Jade Goody is being made to pay a very high price, as is Danielle Lloyd, for something they are not guilty of.  Racism.  It has also been called bullying but if the show is watched with an open mind then it is plain that Shilpa has given as good as she has received.  Today Jade is probably going to be evicted, going by what has been going on outside of the house, but does she have to go out disgraced for simply playing the BB game.  Does she have to have her career and reputation destroyed?  She has worked so hard to achieve all she has.  We need to remember that the nine house mates have been living in very trying, claustrophobic conditions and their behaviour is not what it normally would be and that goes for Shilpa, Jade and the rest, so why is such a harsh judgment being passed by the public on Jade?  Surely we can be more understanding and sympathetic?
Evelyn Lewis