11th January 2006 - Aaaaargh! Lauren and Sarah's big shout!

Hands up all those people who think Michael Barrymore has lost his mind...? Sorry, slipped into teacher mode there for a second.

It seems like that's how most of my lessons have started this past week it's all the kids at school can talk about! So, here we are, Sarah and I are round at the manors having just sat down for the family viewing of tonight's show... here's our thoughts on the matter:

"A wicked manipulative witch!" said the DISGRACED politician.

"A scheming canniving old cow!" Said the DISGRACED and HUMILIATED comedian.

"The lowest of the low!" Said the 46 year old "I don't know what I am" hideous drag queen.

" I just want to be spoken to nicely like every one else!" Said Jodie Marsh, 27, Essex.

Oh my God! The outrage, what an awful calculating young woman she is.

So it's now Wednesday night and there's only just under two days left to place your vote, and I understand it's a difficult decision.. Pete or George to go? They're both as vile as each other. It's such a difficult position to be in, watching as a close friend or member of the family, as it's impossible to know what your average Joe on the street thinks. However, over the past couple of days, there have been an increasing number of people who have got in touch either with me, Sarah, Seven, or the family and stated how outraged they are at the blatant and vicious bullying that is going on in the house.

Let's start with Tuesday night's show. I watched with bated breath as I witnessed Pete actually open up to the possibility of listening to Jodie speak, he even began to nod in agreement as she rationally explained her point of view. Until... Mr. Barrymore pipes up with his incomprehensible nonsense. Did anybody else notice how he (albeit unskillfully) twisted the entire conversation around to himself? Now, knowing Jodie as well as I do, I will complete the point that she was not allowed to finish. What Jodie was trying to say, was that: at the time of the "line up in order of celebrity" task, no-one was aware that the motive was to see where Chantelle was placed and ultimately if she had succeeded in her mission. Jodie, quite rightly, assumed then that there must be some hidden catch. Her immediate response being that surely Dennis and Traci should be ranked no's 1 and 2, as they would have the largest number of people who recognised them (worldwide), as they are from a country with a vast population. Her rationale being that big brother would assume the housemates would base their judgement on British celebrity only. That is exactly why Jodie expressed that Dennis and Traci go to the top spots. How does Barrymore construe this? You don't like me so you didn't want me to go the the no. 1 spot! I thought Jodie was the alleged self obsessive?

I notice that Pete's only addition to this conversation was "you manipulative scheming cow!" Or something to that effect. Nice. Yeah lets keep him in, he's charming! Following this, Barrymore proceeded to proclaim that Jodie had now managed to position herself in the place most effective for the camera to view her! Err? Mike, there's cameras everywhere! Surprisingly enough, we can all see your ugly mug too. And in case you're wondering mate, yes we can all see you when you bring on the waterworks in full view of a camera too. At this point I'd just like to say well said to the Mirror, who aptly pointed out that it took Barrymore nearly a full ten minutes to squeeze those tears out in the garden last night. Give the man an oscar. Also at this point I'd like to say a massive "Hurrah!" to Russel Brand, from CBB Big Mouth. His comments that Jodie was being treated way too harshly were spot on, and a very good point made, in that, Jodie is hardly an evil force like Lord Voldemort! If Barrymore upsets himself so easily, perhaps he needs to listen to some of his own advice.

Moving on, so on tonight's show, George quite publically attacked Jodie, calling her 'evil', apparently it was her fault that Barrymore was outside crying (these were the aforementioned tears that The Mirror so cleverly spotted, took 10 mins to appear!). Now, correct me if I'm wrong... Barrymore can cry because Jodie told him to shut up. Apparently she said the worst thing ever in that, she questioned why she should take advice from him of all people. Well, I hate to let the cat out of the bag here, but are we not talking about a man who quite publically fled from a major crime scene? A man who has been an alcoholic and drug addict? So. Let me get this straight. Jodie cannot cry for the memory of her dead friend on the anniversary of her birth and death (i.e. Pete's heartless comment "oh my friend died, my dad's ill oh boo hoo me"). She can't cry because she's concerned about her father, who by the way, she only heard to be ill moments before her entrance. No, he's not dying (hence her decision to still appear on the show), but she's every right to be concerned about him, but Michael IS justified in his self indulgent tears? Forgive me, I'm flummoxed! Although, one thing I will say, is that Faria was completely justified in her spinach trauma breakdown, I mean, we're talking about vegetable consumption on a mass scale here!

By the way, does anyone think that maybe George has a thing for Michael? He said he really wanted him to sparkle in the house, then he kissed his forehead? I think they will be very happy together.

So what did you guys all think about Pete's outfit today? Now, before we get started and all you critics say "Ooh, it's not fair to judge other people.. BLAH BLAH BLAH! How can you slag his outfits off when Jodie dresses provocatively?" Answer me this, why is it ok for Pete to dress in this way without judgement being passed, not only on his physical appearance but on his worth as a human being? Cos I can tell you soemthing for nothing, there is no way on Earth that Jodie would have escaped an ear bashing had she paraded herself around so shamelessly in nothing but tights and a thong! And by the way, we've seen it on tape, Pete walking around in bare feet. So Screw you!

I'd like to raise a valid point here; Jodie entered the house with the possible hope to change the public's perception of her. Now, so many people are objectional to this. Many people have expressed their anger at her wish to be judged fairly, like a human being. Can I just say, you've all missed the point. Jodie is perfectly aware that everybody is entitled to their opinion. She knows that people will judge her for doing glamour shoots etc. that's not the problem. If you don't like the glamour girl image, that's fine. Even say something nasty and derogatory if you're so inclined. What Jodie objects to is being slated about her physical appearance. Is it fair to verbally attack someone and say cruel and hurtful things about their nose, or the colour of their skin, or their breasts? No. Plain and simple. Secondly, we'd like to point out that the same applies to her personality. Because Jodie has done glamour shoots does that mean she is 'evil' or 'the lowest of the low'? No. I'd suggest that this particular turn of phrase applies to criminals, or people that flee crime scenes (sorry, low blow). I know what you bitter cynics are thinking "but she's said things about other people". My response: so it's ok for Jodie to take the abuse, but offer no defence? Ok, so maybe she could make a 'dignified' "no comment". But why the hell should she? Jodie has never initiated an attack on anyone. Full stop. I challenge you to find someone that she has. So sshhh now.

Jodie is slagged for her opinions and views and told she is rude, but Pete is allowed to mince around spouting his loud mouth, brash and vile views to all and sundry? Two words - DOUBLE STANDARDS. What this screams of to me is victimisation. Pete quite proudly claims that he is who he is, he says what he wants and blow the consequences. Yet Jodie is constantly opposed, challenged, attacked and penalised for having any opinion. Pete proudly proclaimed tonight that he came in as an individual not part of a group. When Jodie has been accused of segregating the group and causing a serious divide. She has been ostracised. How can she be part of the group when she is consistantly denied any say, or breath to speak, she has been suffocated into silence.

On that note (ooh, I'm on quite a roll here...!), 'Beat Bullying', Jodie's elected charity (oh, the irony!) have spoken out on the news today in disgust. They feel that Jodie is being brutally bullied and that the display of behaviour in the house is consistant with that of typical school yard bullies. I am a school teacher and I witness and attempt to deal with bullying situations nearly every day. The 'hunting pack' behaviour of the other housemates (except Chantelle) is unfortunately 'text book' in terms of bullying. Now, how Michael, George, Pete etc can so maliciously, cannivingly and calculatingly try to confuse Chantelle into believing that Jodie is 'evil' is not only ridiculous but almost laughable. We are talking here about men of 40 plus, resorting to playground tactics. The poor girl is obviously confused beyond belief. In her heart she can see Jodie for what she is: caring, loving kind etc, but she is under immense pressure and is being manipulated by nasty old men. Isn't it funny that that's exactly what they accuse Jodie of? Although Jodie has attempted to put up a resistance, sadly, they appear to have strength in numbers (which is all any bully has) and Jodie has now resorted to keeping a low profile to avoid another attack. Like any victim of bullying, a typical response is to keep yourself out of the firing line. I hope when they leave the house, they are ashamed.

Can we just say at this point, that we really like Chantelle. We're looking forward to meeting her when everyone'e out, she'll be a welcome member of the group! An interesting point don't we all think that Jodie and Chantelle have become friends. Obviously they are both the same place and share a love of glamour and gloss, but they also know a lot of the same people. But more importantly, is the fact that Chantelle is the only 'non-celebrity' in the house. Jodie naturally gravitates towards people who still live with their feet firmly on the ground, Chantelle does not yet possess any of the pretention of fame and Jodie admires that in a friend. This is largely why she holds no pretention herself and is who she is. Who she has always been. Jodie and Chantelle had a close bond before it was revealed that she was just any girl off the street!

So here's the question that came straight from those oversized lips:

Is she calculating, manipulative and canniving? Or Genuine, sincere and unfairly victimised?

Well, ultimately the programme speaks for itself. I promise you this. Get George out. Allow Jodie her voice. Allow us to see the fun loving, warm spirited, carefree full of life Jodie that we know and love. We all react to the environment around us, it's no wonder that Jodie has reacted to such an oppressive atmosphere. Kick out the Bitches of Eastwick and let our favourite girl have a fair chance to shine.

Aaaand Breathe...! Phew, we're sure glad we got that off our chest! Anyway guys, we have to go now as we have votes to register. Remember to vote for who you want OUT of the show (that's George obviously... we're saving Pete for later!).

Take it easy, lots of love.

Lauren and Sarah xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx