It was. I wasn't keen on how Cherelle blamed Ottavio alone for Alex/Laura going. After all the complaints were about everyone, not just the two of them. Otavio was then vile to Will/Craig so I'm glad him and Bradley went. -sniggers-

Dino is still not my cup of tea, you're welcome to work any part of him you like.

Well you're too late anyway because I've done it now, I don't need you, I did it all by myself

3 hours? wow you must be doing yours from scratch, the full works!

You know apart from the rampant homophobia, the 80s is right up my street, raves, cocktail parties, fancy looking houses, and capitalism... what more could I ask for?

They call the '80s "the decade that taste forgot" but I love it.

And funny you should mention the decade and homophobia... I only found out today that there was a gay character on Dynasty. Who'da thunk it? And from the first episode as well.

Apparently the writers intended form him just to be gay but it ended up bi. (And I don't mean that in a negative way). Still neither you'd expect on an early '80s soap.

I reckon my stye today is that of a ponce/yuppy back then! not a lot of punk influence but tucked in shirts and skinny jeans, IIRC they originated in the 80s. Plus I like polka dot patterns

Especially not an American one!

I remember they had a gay character on Eastenders in the early days, and there's a scene of Dot saying she can't be around him when she found out he was gay. I know it was supposed to be a sad scene between the characters where you'd sympathise with the man, all I could do was laugh because it was Dot Cotton

SO happy Bradley and Ottavio went. Really disliked them, way too loud. Will and Craig are lovely, hope they win.

Yes I'll happily have Dino

Yep did it from scratch, was well worth it though.



Funnily enough I'm doing my dissertation on the 1980's. Working title at the moment "From Boys From the Blackstuff to Spitting Image: A Critical Examination of British Television under Thatcher".

I've said for years that I would love to have been around in the 80s, mainly for the music and the TV. The homophobia not so. The 1980s must've been the most homophobic decade in the 20th century. Section 28 (which really boils my blood), The Sun and the evil c-word Kelvin McKenzie and their rampant homophobia. It's still fairly recent as well which shows how far British society has progressed.

Lol I've seen that clip before with Barry telling Dot he was gay. I do laugh at it because of Dot being ott

Aside from the homophobia, Thatcher ruined communities especially where I live and the entire North. Whole industries, not just the mines, shut down causing mass unemployment and Ashington (where I'm from) is still recovering 30 years on.

So yeah I'm not a fan of Thatcher at all. We even opened a bottle of champagne when she died, not very nice I know but I don't care.

lol yeah, there's a lot of Eighties influence in today's fashion. Its weird to think that in the 2040s things that are in right now will be seen as retro and make a comeback.


Very true. And on ABC, one of the major networks, not the periphery.
Perhaps just as surprising was how early in the decade it was - 1981. It was a bit of a trailblazing moment I suppose.

10 years later and there's Nancy on Rosanne, another 6 years and Ellen and her show and then Will & Grace in '98.

Not to mention how the youngsters will probably patronize and tell me I'm too old to wear the clothes in style even if they were mine first lol.

My mum cheered too. I didn't personally care because I never lived through it so I wasn't personally effected by her rule. I suppose history is repeating itself in the form of Cameron's kingdom. We need a change up in parliament.

I bought a bottle of champagne as well and bought the track 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead'!
I remember the homophobia in the 1980's. Poor Russell Harty , who was just the best chat show host, in hospital with hepatitis when the Sun hounded him over his sexuality. Some think this , at least, hastened Harty's death.

The 1990's were terrible also with the likes of Neo Nazi David Copeland targeting gay people with a bomb and serial killer Colin Ireland bumping us off.

You know chinny I was only a little chap during the 90s so I can't speak for too much on that, but even in the early noughties and up until about the back end of the noughties, people were still more homophobic. Now the same people you would have expected to be homophobic back then are more broad minded.

I remember I'd say I liked something not even remotely associated with homosexuality, like a cartoon and some of my friends would shut me down with "that show is gay, only gay boys like that" or if there was a girl/woman walking past us in the streets they would turn to me and whisper "see her, she's a lesbian." - and this was when we were 8/9.

I would like to say that they didn't know what they were talking about (maybe), but I think they probably got that from their idiot parents. It has to be coming from somewhere doesn't it?

I agree with you there BBWWF. I remember once on a children's TV programme one of the puppets? was called a 'right pansy'. Of course children will copy the TV and their parents.

All of that starts at home though. My parents weren't strict but they never let me watch highly explicit programmes and I was never exposed to explicit rap music. I had no idea what gay even meant as a word until I was about 11 other than just the context my friends used it in. I just thought it was a bad word to use against someone.

My point is letting your kids listen to Eminem when you're 8 isn't clever.

Well I cant discus the 1980's as I was not born to 1996 but I've just realised my dad doesn't accept me at all. Things occurred which meant he found out a couple of years ago and ever since when ever he is angry he calls me tart or faggot.

Sorry to hear that. People, even if they're your closest family tend to go after something they know you're sensitive about, even if they don't mean it.

Not that I'm recommending it, but have you ever tried challenging his views, asking him why he's like that? my dad had a lot of preconceived ideas about gay people, he didn't really like them at all. But since it's closer to home and I'm that way inclined he's had to face the facts: you can't just generalise like that.It's sort of like saying the entire population of Papua New Guinea is full of cannibals.

No because he can be reasoned with. I would then get more abuse in my face, we would then have a row and then he threatens physical violence unless I stop.

I'd keep my distance from anyone like that, even if they were my family. Maybe one of the others will have some better advice to offer but I often give out poor advice sorry bub

I can only base this on what you have shared, but, it doesn't sound like a particularly safe environment for you.

You have to keep yourself safe, so maybe it's best to walk away when he gets like that, the space should give him time to calm down.

Anyone fancy cheering me up? Sat here with a bad stomach feeling sorry for myself. And I'm evaluating my life and how unfulfilled it is.

Sorry if I appear negative and depressing, I'm like this all the time

PM me for a chat if you like. I can possibly maybe mildy cheer you up (or at the very least provide you with relating stories to how mine's is considerably just as unfulfilling)

I could give you a link to an old animated show I used to and now currently love, it's like a virtual puppy/kitten, if it doesn't make you happy who knows what would, it's called Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends

Ha Nah just tell me a joke or say something funny I'll be here all day burdening you with my shit.

I've just googled it, is it American?

I'm shit at jokes, I'm only unintentionally funny. I'm all ears, honestly bub.

It is indeed. Don't tell me you've not seen it before? It's so great. It's aimed at children but it's one of the last animated shows to have double entendres, it's awesome. Plus it's about Imaginary Friends, need I say any more?

If it makes you feel better I have to put up with a racist idiot at work all the time...

I'm trying my best to think of something witty or entertaining to contribute to help cheer you up Lew but I'm sorry, I got nothing.

Thank god strangely-sexy-silver-Steve went over Sultry-Sunetra. Right decision.

Mark/Karen and Caroline/Pasha are boring me now though, I wish they would go.

Don't worry about it

Yeah I'm glad Steve went, he was rubbish. I love Sunetra but I think she'll be going next week.

Agree with you re Mark but not Caroline!!!! She's fabulous and it was such a shame she stumbled in her routine last night as it would've been amazing.

Steve wasn't rubbish, but I must say that dance he did on Saturday was wretched.

Caroline puts me to sleep whenever she's on, sorry! (Pasha keeps me awake though) and tbh out of the remaining girls Frankie is my favourite, she can do it all.

When it comes to the men, I like Jake, but only when he does energetic dances, slow dances aren't his strong point.