As another display of discontent with this year’s Big Brother crop, Endemol yet again deemed it necessary to spice up tonight’s show with another twist of sorts; letting this week’s nominees, Jonti, Amy and Kara-Louise watch footage of the nominations which left their fate in the hands of the public (and possibly the Channel 4 production team had they been up against Charley). Whether this twist was planned all along for this juncture of the show, or whether it was developed to try and inject some interest into these lacklustre halfway housemates is hard to say, but it was certainly an interesting viewing experience.

Amy came across brilliantly in this segment. Here I use the term brilliantly in the manner which you’d describe the resolution of an HD TV – she was presented as a self obsessed, narrow minded and deluded egomaniac (or as she so succinctly put it afterwards, as a “scheming whore”). Not very flattering, but I think very accurately and vividly.

bb1As she snuggled between the towel-wearing Jonti and the puzzlingly coiffered Kara-Louise, we could anticipate Amy of all people would not react well to any criticism directed her way. However, she took the twins’ votes surprisingly well. “Aww, they don’t have a bad word to say about anybody, do they?” she cooed, seemingly oblivious to the fact they’d just nominated the two slightly miffed people sat either side of her. What Amy probably meant is that they didn’t say anything bad about her, which of course is what really mattered.

When the next video appeared on screen (her own nominations) her cringing and embarrassment was to be expected; after all she had nominated Kara-Louise even after the arguments her disloyalty to fellow halfway-housemates had previously caused. However, her knee-jerk reaction to this potentially awkward situation was not a pre-emptive apology or explanation, but a “look how terrible I look.” Maybe I’m being too harsh, I mean, despite being self-obsessed and vain it at least showed some modicum of accurate self-perception.

I don’t really understand why these videos upset an angered Kara and Amy so much? I mean, when they knew they were up for the public vote, they must have known people would have said negative things about them. Kara, who took it all rather badly, should have been placated by the reasons put forward for her – she was let off lightly. Most of the comments against her were due to her havign previously said she wasn’t enjoying the BB experience, and were usually preceded by, “she’s a lovely girl, but…” If anything housemates were trying to help her out. If the harsh reality of that hurt her so much, it raises the question of what she previously thought might be the reasons she was up. Short of, “she’s just so amazing that I can’t handle it,” I can’t see how the real reasons were an unpleasant shock.

Amy wasn’t the only one who annoyed me today. Gerry is continuing to grate on me. When Big Brother announced they wanted the two housemates “most knowledgeable about history” to go to The Diary Room, Gerry’s face lit of with a mixture of pride and defiance. He was almost was waiting someone to challenge his self-election so that he could reel off his credentials. If he could have arranged some sort of fanfare and procession to see him into the Diary Room I’m sure he would’ve.

During the quiz he only came across more smug and pretentious. When Jonti stole his thunder by correctly answering the first question right before he had chance to, Gerry, of course being the authority on the veracity of historical facts, twittered “yes, well done, good” and “that was easy that one” – which to a man of Gerry’s learning it of course would have been. The mocking he got from Liam et al outside after his failure in this task was well deserved.

Also annoying about Gerry was his discussion with Ziggy over their relationship. When Ziggy complained about Gerry’s criticism of him previously, Jerry responded; “Yes I did say that, then I went to the toilets and cried, and came back and apologised.” Why do housemates feel that by crying they can absolve themselves of past wrong-doings? When Amy backstabbed her halfway housemates and they met up again, she explained it all with “You didn’t see how much I cried about it afterwards.” Ignoring the fact that we the omnipresent viewer didn’t see this either, the main point is why should this explanation work as a placatory gesture? It’s lazy and manipulative, and would be expected of a child. Also, as evidenced by Amy putting Kara up again this week, such tears are usually not a sign of guilt or regret. Its just another way some housemates like to turn everything back to being about themselves, even their own wrong-doings.

One final point; Gerry said in the very same discussion that if there’s one thing in life he doesn’t like it’s hypocrites. This from the man who said, regarding Jonti; “I just find it a little odd that a grown man would talk to his cuddly toys.” Next to him on the Diary Room chair was his stuffed toy monkey, dressed up in miniature versions of the clothes he himself was wearing. He’s a clever man is Gerry.