duh, she's the Boddington Babe and will be treated with the utmost respect

Who decided Mel was going to be the cook in the first place? I missed a couple of episodes so don't know how she came to be in charge.

That is a good summing up of the situation .

She's lost all her sparkle, probably due to lack of food therefore her energy reserves have been depleted .

I never realized she was such a control freak . Used to see her on Des and Mel and with Gino .

She is a forceful character and put herself forward as the camp cook . Vicki who also likes to cook just bit her tongue and decided to take a back seat .

She's a diva.....get her out

I've never been much of a fan of hers TBH - always felt she went a bit OTT with the giggling and flirty nature etc - I somehow never thought it was genuine.

I was quite happy to give her the benefit of the doubt and looked forward to seeing 'the real Mel' in the jungle - turns out she's really a bit of a horror shock isn't she? What a miserable biatch - all under the 'laid back' guise.

She'a not strong though is she?
If she was strong she wouldn't be such a moaning minnie.

My favourite part of the show from series 1 onwards has always been the fireside chats. She managed to kill an interesting one stone dead last night, firstly by taking oiffence at what was clearly intended to be a positive comment from Edwina and then by the way in which she declined to participate.

I had high hopes for Mel in the first week. Confident, capable, game for a laugh. But latterly she doesn't seem to be coping at all well. For her sake, for that of the other campmates (who must be treading on eggshells around her) and, frankly, for the sake of the viewers (as she is taking all of the spark out of the show), she needs to go.

Mel has certainly done herself no favours in the jungle. I quite liked her as a presenter, but as a person and a campmate I do not like her at all. I think she has found it much much harder than she expected it to be.

I suspect Gino has coached her on her cooking abilities, unfortunately he has failed to coach her on her people skills. They seem to be non-existent, she's spiky most of the time, seeing insults or slights against her constantly, where most of the time none were intended.

I don't like Edwina either but I'm actually starting to prefer her (in very small doses), to Mel. She (Mel) seems to constantly be on the lookout for something or someone to moan about. It doesn't take much to start her off, she's a control freak who wants everything her way or not at all. She really is a pain in the arse!

Wasn't there strong rumours or it was even a fact that she used to smash her fella about? Would not surprise me one bit the girl is a loose cannon and is bubbling at the moment but she's keeping a lid on things because she knows the cameras are there.

This ^^^. - I can't believe there is someone I like less than Edwina Currie!

She's one of the reasons I've not enjoyed it this year. I know there's usually some tension, especially at meal times, but there's too much pent up anger and resentment in Mel (imo) and it's uncomfortable viewing.

Mel was my favourite in the beginning however she's slowly unravelling and doesn't seem to be coping very well. She's become a real fun hoover , shes bringing the mood in the camp down.

It's pretty well documented......... HERE is her ex husband's side of the story.
I don't think for one second she would be easy to live with. There have been rumours for years she's very difficult to work with too.

get her out cuz like spousal abuse aint cool

I get the feeling that Mel went in there thinking she would be the "camp Mother", running things and appearing to look after everyone. That was helped by the camp split and her ending up with what initially seemed to be the meeker group of the two, who were happy to let her get on with it. I think that was when she established herself as the camp cook, as Kendra and the men were happy to lether do it!

What she hadn't factored in to her calculations was the fact that the rest of the campers are celebrities of some kind in their own fields, and none of them are ready to just roll over and let that happen. Also, the sheer boredom of doing nothing all day every day, and the opportunity to actually DO something - anything at all - begins to look attractive. The evening meal is clearly the high point of the day, and when they are kept so short, it's important to get it right.

I don't think the others would mind her doing all the cooking, if just occasionally she would listen to the (usually well meaning and helpful) advice she gets when she isn't sure of the best way to prepare the sometimes rather exotic fare they are given. As it is usually the two older women who have probably been cooking for years longer than, her, maybe she should actually try taking it in the spirit its intended, rather than taking it as a personal criticism/ attack every single time. Her refusal to do so has resulted in several pretty inedible meals for everyone. I think she'd have got a lot of Brownie points with everyone had she just apologised to Vicki and Edwina for ignoring them about cooking the octopus. They were right and she was wrong, and had she actually not been so self absorbed and sure of her own infallibility, they might have had a much nicer dinner that night

Her act is getting tired

God, but I hate that expression! It has no meaning, whatsoever. They are all 'real', FGS. It's usually used as an excuse for unpleasant behavior and it's purely an inanity.

As for a 'strong, self-sufficient woman' - she seems deeply troubled to me. Snappy, emotional, defensive and controlling. I feel quite sorry for her. She doesn't seem strong at all, she seems very, very fragile.

A lot of people must like her, she is still there!

She needs to go, she's just awful

Couldn't agree more.
Really getting on my tits, as they say

It may not be because people like her that the are voting for her to stay, its probably more to do with the fact that they are waiting for her to explode. Some people really like to see confrontation. I would rather see people having fun and not being dragged down by a misery like her.

It must be hell to live with moaning Mel.Get her out.

And immaturity.

Kian made a very good point last night. He was the main camp cook last year but always listened to the others. His point was, that is their food you're taking control over and cooking. Hunger is one of the worst things in there and all of their efforts are usually for food. No-one should ever believe they have sole right to decide what they do with other's food. If she can't cope with that she shouldn't put herself up as the cook.

Excellent point.

He makes a very good point - he's very level headed and fair minded - probably why he was crowned winner. Can't see Mel getting the crown.